San Francisco Bay Area Hit With Massive Storm-Related Power Outages

Thousands of people in the San Francisco Bay Area were left without power after strong winds and rains hit the California coast Wednesday.

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) issued a statement, noting more than 95,000 customers lost power in the region due to the windy winter storm. Responding to the winter storm, the company urged its customers to prepare for “potential extended outages” in the Bay Area.

Here is a breakdown of the areas hit with power outages, as per San Francisco Gate:

• San Francisco- 6,722
• Peninsula: 41,189
• North Bay: 12,686
• East Bay: 21,097
• South Bay: 13,861
• Total customers: 95,555

The San Francisco Bay Area is expected to receive up to six inches of rain till Thursday, Associated Press reported.

You can view PG&E’s live power outage map here.

Other parts of the California coast also faced similar storm-related power outages. Other providers in the state, including Palo Alto Utilities Department, Southern California Edison, and Sacramento Municipal Utility District, warned customers about the loss of power around their neighborhood, according to data released by Power Outages.

PG&E officials also assured dispatching hundreds of personnel to solve the expected power issues, as per CBS News.

A similar mass power outage was last seen in California on New Year’s Eve. More than 500,000 PG&E customers lost power in Northern California, according to the company.

This came as California faces the dual threat of a bomb cyclone and the “pineapple express.” The pineapple express is a kind of atmospheric river that bridges Hawaii and western U.S. states, as described by the U.S. National Ocean Service on its website.

“Atmospheric rivers are part of the Earth’s ocean water cycle, and are tied closely to both water supply and flood risks. When it reaches the west coast, the Pineapple Express can dump as much as five inches of rain on California in one day,” the agency said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom Wednesday declared a state-wide emergency to allow enhanced safety response amid concerns over the storm. Air traffic in and out of the state has also been disrupted, with dozens of flights being grounded.

“California is mobilizing to keep people safe from the impacts of the incoming storm,” Governor Newsom said in a statement. “This state of emergency will allow the state to respond quickly as the storm develops and support local officials in their ongoing response.”