Pacific Gas & Electric Company and Southern California Edison warn of possible public safety power shutoffs for parts of Santa Barbara County starting Friday because of high winds, dry conditions and heightened wildfire risk.
The National Weather Service recently issued a red flag warning Friday due to strong winds, low humidity, and hot temperatures in the forecast.
There’s a possibility the warning extends into Saturday, according to meteorologist Rose Schoenfeld.
The peak temperatures for Santa Barbara County through Saturday are forecasted to reach the 90s, with Santa Ynez expected to reach almost 100 degrees.
On Friday, from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m., high winds are expected, with east winds expected up to 25 mph and gusts up to 40 mph for Santa Barbara County interior mountains, according to Schoenfeld.
The humidity is expected to be as low as 8-20%, she added.
“(The low humidity) makes everything a lot more flammable,” Schoenfeld said.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials warned that the combination of strong winds, dry fuels, low humidity and warm temperatures could lead to “rapid fire ignition and extreme fire behavior, threatening lives and property.”
National Weather Service officials also said that “extreme fire behavior and growth” could occur if a fire starts. Downed trees, power lines, and power outages are also a possibility.
Southern California Edison said a possible power shutoff could affect 12,951 customers on the South Coast.
PG&E has North County under its watch list for a likely power shutoff due to high winds and dry conditions through Saturday that could impact 1,100 customers, according to officials.
See if your address is under an SCE Public Safety Power Shutoff warning.
The fire department is monitoring conditions and will add more resources to “enhance readiness,” officials said.
A heat advisory is also in effect through Saturday for coastal areas due to the winds coming from (the) interior and out towards the coast, according to Schoenfeld.
“The compressional heating as it downslopes down the mountains spikes temperatures,” she added.
The fire department advises residents to have a wildfire evacuation plan, avoid hiking or using trails in areas under the red flag warning and avoid spark-producing tools and machinery in grass- or brush-covered areas.
