Southern California Edison warned of potential public safety power shutoffs Monday that could affect about 1,000 customers in Santa Barbara South Coast communities.

The potential shutoffs are due to “increased fire risk conditions” between Monday and Thursday, according to the SCE Outage Map.

Outage areas are indicated along Highway 154, East Camino Cielo and the Gaviota Coast. One PSPS was in effect as of Tuesday morning, affecting 188 customers along Highway 154 near the summit.

The PSPS warnings come as a heat advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service for parts of Santa Barbara County.

According to the NWS, the areas that will be most affected by the heat will be the inland areas of the county. Residents are being advised to stay hydrated and avoid the sun when it is hottest in the afternoon. The heat advisory is in place until 9 p.m. on Tuesday.

In addition to heat, the NWS is anticipating heavy winds during the evening, and they will likely last until Wednesday night. The winds are expected to come from the northeast and will bring dry air with low humidity.

“The biggest thing is to be careful,” said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist for the NWS. “Try not to do anything that creates a spark during that time, because it’s the fuels are pretty dry and, and it could be ripe for a fire.”

Daytime temperatures at the Gifford Fire are expected in the 90s and low 100s, and firefighters are being challenged by the hot, dry conditions.

Weather Forecast Across The County

Santa Barbara will see higher temperatures in the early portion of the week, with highs in the low 80s, before cooling down before the weekend.

Daytime highs will be in the 70s on Wednesday and into the weekend.

Solvang will see some of the highest temperatures over the week, with heat levels in the 90s. Monday and Tuesday will be the hottest days with temperatures in the low-90s.

Lompoc will see high winds and daytime high temperatures in the 70s early this week, and they’ll drop to the 60s later this week.

Santa Maria will see mild temperatures for most of the week and will peak in the low-70s before cooling down near the end of the week.

To see the latest weather updates or the forecast for your area, visit weather.gov.  

Tips to Stay Cool in Hot Weather

Here is a list of suggestions from the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management:

• Drink plenty of cool, non-alcoholic beverages, especially those without sugar or caffeine. Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink. If you have fluid restrictions from your doctor, ask to see how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Take care of those who might not be aware of high temperature dangers or be able to react accordingly – especially the elderly, young children, and pets. Check on your neighbors.
• Limit outdoor activity. Try to schedule outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, like morning and evening hours. Be sure to wear sunscreen and rest often.
• For those who work outside, be sure to take frequent rest breaks in a shaded area or air-conditioned room, if possible. Stay hydrated and take action by moving to a cooler space if you feel signs of heat exhaustion.
• Take regular breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned room. A few hours in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler. Taking a cool shower or bath can help too.
• If you do not have air‐conditioning, consider arranging to spend at least parts of the day at another space that is cool. Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, they will not prevent heat-related illness.
• Wear appropriate clothing. Lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing works best.
• Know the signs of heat exhaustion. If someone becomes dizzy, nauseated, or sweats heavily, find a cooler location for him or her immediately.
• Know the signs of heat stroke. Heat stroke is much more serious than heat exhaustion. The symptoms are similar to heat exhaustion, but also include hot, flushed skin. With heat stroke, the person often stops sweating and the skin will be unusually dry. If heat stroke is a possibility, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is life threatening!
• Do not leave children (and pets) unattended in vehicles. It only takes a matter of minutes on a relatively mild day for a vehicle to reach deadly temperatures.