Potential public safety power shutoffs scheduled this week throughout Monterey County.

Ten counties throughout California are scheduled for public safety power shutoffs due to “unusual, wind-driven fire weather,” according to Pacific Gas & Electric officials. 

Unlike typical public safety power shutoff events driven by dry offshore winds, this situation involves strong northwest onshore winds combined with very dry air and lingering heat, according to PG&E Meteorologist Evan Duffey. 

“A strong pressure gradient between Salinas and Paso Robles will funnel winds down the Salinas Valley, with wind gusts near 30 mph in some areas, while relative humidity drops into the teens and 20s,” he said in a press briefing on Tuesday, July 14. 

The power shutoff will affect Southern Monterey County, specifically areas in Soledad, Greenfield and King City, and parts of upper Carmel Valley near the Hastings Natural History Reservation. It is scheduled to take place from 10am on Wednesday, July 15 through the evening on Thursday, July 16. 

Other counties affected include Contra Costa, Fresno, Marin, Merced, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo and two small areas in Santa Barbara. 

The shutoff will affect about 8,000 PG&E customers throughout these counties and about 3,083 customers in Monterey County, according to PG&E communications representative Stephanie Magallon.

In Monterey County, meteorologists predict winds from the west at 30-40 mph on Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon wind gusts will reach 45 mph. High temperatures are forecast through Wednesday, July 15 in the 90s. 

“Fire weather concerns will remain elevated this afternoon through Thursday due to near critically dry conditions, gusty onshore winds, and very dry fuel conditions,” according to a forecast from the National Weather Service issued on Tuesday, July 14. 

These weather conditions are expected to create elevated fire weather risk for more than 12 hours, especially from Salinas south through King City and Lake San Antonio. 

Duffy noted that Salinas Valley is not usually in scope for public safety power shutoff events because typical offshore winds tend to impact higher terrain such as the Carmel Highlands and Big Sur rather than the valley floor, but this weather forecast is an exception.

“We don't tend to see the wind get funneled through the valley; it usually skips over,” he said.