Updated 12:35 p.m. PT Wednesday, Oct. 14: The Press Democrat reports PG&E's Wednesday estimates put about 9,757 customers across Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino and Solano counties in the potential shutoff zone — including 2,041 in Sonoma (up from 1,783), 3,307 in Napa (up from 3,027), 3,601 in Lake (up from 57), 778 in Mendocino (up from 27) and 30 in western Solano. About 616 of those North Bay customers are on Medical Baseline. A separate PG&E investor release Wednesday still listed statewide scope at about 88,000 customers in 29 counties (about 5,500 Medical Baseline), with Bay Area figures of 4,705 in Alameda and 1,605 in Contra Costa, and said about 25,000 customers were newly added to notifications while about 7,300 were removed. Shutoffs could begin Wednesday evening and run through Saturday; check pge.com/pspsupdates. Berkeley hills customers should also see our Thursday morning shutoff guide.

Updated 6:45 a.m. PT Wednesday, Oct. 14: In an 11:55 p.m. Tuesday update, PG&E said new models and forecasts had raised the potential scope of this week's shutoffs to about 88,000 customers across 29 counties. The utility has not yet posted updated county counts, so the Bay Area figures below are from Tuesday afternoon and may rise. In Berkeley, a shutoff could begin Thursday between 5:15 and 6 a.m.; see our Berkeley and Oakland hills shutoff guide.

Updated 4:40 p.m. PT Tuesday, Oct. 13: PG&E has roughly doubled the size of its Public Safety Power Shutoff watch for this week's offshore wind event. About 70,000 customers across 29 counties could lose power from late Wednesday, Oct. 14, through Saturday afternoon, Oct. 17 — up from about 30,000 customers in 22 counties in Monday's notice. The utility sent day-ahead notifications Tuesday afternoon to customers newly added to the watch.

Bay Area counties now on the list

East Bay counties that were not on Monday's Bay Area list are now in scope, and North Bay numbers jumped. County estimates from PG&E's Tuesday update, as reported in the utility's release and by The Press Democrat:

  • Alameda County: 4,705 customers, including 213 Medical Baseline customers
  • Napa County: 3,027 customers, including 138 Medical Baseline customers (up from 419 on Monday)
  • Sonoma County: 1,783 customers, including 69 Medical Baseline customers (up from 1,216)
  • Contra Costa County: 1,605 customers, including 92 Medical Baseline customers
  • Solano County: 30 customers

Lake (57) and Mendocino (27) counties remain on the North Bay fringe of the watch. Statewide, PG&E says about 3,920 Medical Baseline customers and five tribal governments are included. About 4,000 customers who lost power earlier this week could be shut off again; about 5,700 customers who were in the original scope have been removed. Counts and locations can still change as the forecast changes. This remains a warning, not a confirmed shutoff for every address on the list.

The forecast behind it

PG&E says the strongest Diablo-style offshore winds are expected Thursday across the northern and central Sierra and parts of the North and East Bay, with another pulse Friday farther south. Relative humidity is forecast in the single digits and teens in many areas, and vegetation moisture is near seasonal lows. The National Weather Service Bay Area office still expects gusts mainly in the 25–35 mph range, with up to about 40 mph on the highest ridges — below typical red-flag thresholds for Sonoma and Napa, meteorologist Cynthia Palmer told The Press Democrat on Tuesday. PG&E uses its own wind, humidity and fuel criteria, so a PSPS can still proceed without a red flag warning.

Warmth peaks Thursday and Friday. Santa Rosa is forecast near 89–90 degrees those days, with similar mid-to-upper 80s and low 90s across much of the interior North Bay before a cooldown into the 70s over the weekend, The Press Democrat reported.

For the broader heat and fire-weather pattern, see our related story on inland highs in the 90s through Saturday.

How to check your address and prepare

Look up your address at pge.com/pspsupdates. PG&E began two-day-ahead texts, emails and automated calls late Monday and sent follow-up notices Tuesday for the expanded scope. Staff will try to visit Medical Baseline customers in person if they do not confirm they got the warning, focusing on people who rely on life-sustaining equipment. Call 211, text PSPS to 211, or visit 211.org for preparedness help.

If shutoffs happen, PG&E says it is still lining up Community Resource Centers with accessible restrooms, device charging, Wi-Fi, water and snacks; locations will post on the same PSPS page once confirmed. Before Wednesday night, charge phones and backup batteries, protect refrigerated food and check on neighbors who need powered medical devices.

Bay Area Brief will update this story again if PG&E confirms shutoff start times or changes Bay Area county counts.