Rain and Snow Throughout Northern California Serves as Reminder to Practice Winter Storm Safety

Rhea-AI Summary

Pacific Gas and Electric (PCG) announced an impending series of storms expected to bring rain and snow to Northern California, starting this weekend. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts colder and wetter conditions until November 15. In anticipation of potential outages, PG&E has developed a Storm Outage Prediction Model to effectively pre-stage crews. Customers are urged to follow safety guidelines, including avoiding downed wires and using flashlights during outages. PG&E remains committed to ensuring safety and preparedness for its customers during inclement weather.

Positive

• PG&E has developed a Storm Outage Prediction Model to enhance storm response.
• The upcoming storms may positively affect water supplies in the region.
• The company is taking proactive measures to ensure customer safety.

Negative

• Potential for outages due to severe weather could disrupt service.
• Increased expenses may arise from pre-staging crews and equipment.

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A series of November weather systems is bringing welcome rain and snow to much of Northern California and serves as a reminder of the importance of winter storm safety.

In addition to the rain and snow that fell earlier this week across Northern California, additional storm systems are expected to pass intermittently through the area beginning Saturday and continuing through at least Wednesday.

Further, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center anticipates colder and wetter than normal conditions through November 15.

“It is looking like the storm door is going to be open for the next week or two,” said Neil Flaiz, a meteorologist in PG&E’s Meteorological Operations department.

PG&E’s meteorology team has developed a Storm Outage Prediction Model that incorporates real-time weather forecasts, historical data and system knowledge to predict where and when storm impacts will be most severe. This model enables the company to pre-stage crews and equipment as storms approach to enable rapid response to outages.

PG&E is urging its customers to take the necessary steps to be prepared and stay safe throughout the winter.

Safety Tips:

• Never touch downed wires: If you see a downed power line, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous. Do not touch or try to move it—and keep children and animals away. Report downed power lines immediately by calling 911 and by calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.
• Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-operated flashlights, and not candles, due to the risk of fire. If you must use candles, please keep them away from drapes, lampshades, pets and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.
• Have a backup phone: If you have a telephone system that requires electricity to work, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard telephone or cellular phone ready as a backup.
• Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make blocks of ice that can be placed in your refrigerator/freezer during an outage to prevent foods from spoiling. Blue Ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.
• Use generators safely: Customers with standby electric generators should make sure they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Improperly installed generators pose a significant danger to customers, as well as crews working on power lines. If using portable generators, be sure they are in a well-ventilated area.
• Turn off appliances: If you experience an outage, unplug or turn off all electrical appliances to avoid overloading circuits and to prevent fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.
• Safely clean up: After the inclement weather has passed, be sure to safely clean up. Never touch downed wires and always call 811 or visit 811express.com at least two full business days before digging to have all underground utilities safely marked.

Other tips can be found at pge.com/beprepared

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in Oakland, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

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MEDIA RELATIONS:

415-973-5930

Source: Pacific Gas and Electric Company

FAQ

What storm systems are affecting Northern California in November?

A series of storms are expected to bring rain and snow, starting from November 4.

What is PG&E's response to the upcoming storms?

PG&E has developed a Storm Outage Prediction Model to pre-stage crews and equipment for rapid response.

How can customers prepare for winter storms according to PG&E?

Customers are advised to follow safety tips like avoiding downed wires and using flashlights instead of candles.

What does the NOAA predict for Northern California weather until November 15?

NOAA predicts colder and wetter than normal conditions through November 15.

What should customers do during a power outage?

Customers should use flashlights, have a backup phone ready, and unplug appliances to avoid overload when power returns.