Widespread power outages across the Bay Area and Sonoma County have left tens of thousands of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers without electricity due to severe weather stemming from an atmospheric river storm. The storm, which hit on Saturday, brought with it intense rain and strong winds, leading to significant disruptions.
According to PG&E, power outages peaked Saturday morning at over 150,000 customers across the Bay Area and Central Coast. The outages were most acute in Marin County, with nearly 30,000 customers reported without power, as well as significant interruptions affecting multiple other counties including Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey.
By 11:10 a.m. on Saturday, the fallout from the storm had led to 7,440 customers being affected solely within Novato, prompting local police to advise residents to avoid unnecessary travel. "Road conditions are dangerous because of debris and fallen limbs," the police advisory stated, urging people to stay at home whenever possible.
Reporting on the situation later, PG&E noted at 11:40 a.m. Saturday, more than 108,000 Bay Area customers were still experiencing outages due to the storm’s continued impact. The utility company provided detailed breakdowns by region on its outage map.
The National Weather Service had predicted severe conditions, with wind gusts reaching as high as 55 mph and rainfall accumulating between 1 to 3 inches across most of the region. "If you come across a downed power line, do not touch it or try to move it. Call 911 and PG&E (1-800-743-5002) immediately," the company urged clients, highlighting the dangers associated with fallen lines.
By 3:30 p.m. Saturday, specific areas of Sonoma County such as Petaluma reported significant outages impacting nearly 2,928 customers. Further, communities like Santa Rosa, Cotati, and Penngrove were also on the list of affected locations. Combined, these outages put about 4,901 customers out of service at peak times.
Rohnert Park experienced large scale outages as well, with reports of 4,493 customers initially without power. By later afternoon, service had been mostly restored to the area as teams worked to repair the damages caused by the storm.
This extreme weather event has disrupted daily life, with many unable to access basic services, communications, and resources typically taken for granted. The severity of the weather and resulting power cuts showcase the growing challenges posed by such atmospheric river systems.
Forecasts suggest the rain will ease as the weekend progresses, providing some respite to the beleaguered utility teams battling to restore power. Nonetheless, recovery from the storm’s impacts is expected to take time, and residents are encouraged to exercise caution as power restoration efforts continue.
This situation remains dynamic. The latest information on outages and the effectiveness of restoration efforts will be available through PG&E’s outage map and local advisories as they become available. Residents are urged to stay informed and prepared as they navigate through this weather-related crisis.
Given the concurrent rainfall and wind conditions, officials stress the importance of safety measures. Additional resources and updates will be communicated through local news outlets and via PG&E’s customer service platforms.
