CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA -- Pacific Gas and Electric said Friday that it continues to monitor a potentially powerful and widespread dry, hot and windy weather event expected to begin impacting its service area between 6 and 10 p.m. Saturday and lasting until midday Monday.

PG&E maintains that it will need to turn off power for safety several hours before potentially damaging winds arrive.

Cities and unincorporated ares in Contra Costa County that are likely to be affected, according to the utility, include Alamo, Antioch, Brentwood, Byron, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Crockett, Danville, Diablo, El Cerrito, El Sobrante, Hercules, Kensington, Knightsen, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Port Costa, Richmond, Rodeo, San Pablo, San Ramon and Walnut Creek.

"It's important to note that as this weather system sweeps from north to south over a period of two days, PG&E customers across Northern and Central California will feel the effects of hot, dry winds at different times, which means outage times will vary, as well," the utility said in a statement.

The potential Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is expected to affect about 850,000 customers and may impact portions of 36 counties across portions of Humboldt, the Sierra foothills, Western Sacramento Valley, North Bay, and across the greater Bay area, Monterey Bay and northern Central Coast on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Customers in the southern-most portion of PG&E's service area in Kern County could have power shut off for safety on Sunday, Oct. 27.

Predictive data models indicate the weather event could be the most powerful in California in decades, with widespread dry Northeast winds between 45-60 miles per hour and peak gusts of 60-70 mph in the higher elevations.

Winds of this magnitude pose a higher risk of damage and sparks on the electric system and rapid wildfire spread. The fire risk is even higher because vegetation on the ground has been dried out by recent wind events.

"Given the forecast and conditions, PG&E is advising its customers of the potential for a widespread PSPS lasting several days, intended to prevent a catastrophic wildfire," the utility said.

The utility says that as the intense weather event approaches it's service area in the next 24 hours, it will issue more detailed forecasts, and that the the number of customers who will be affected could change.

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Potential-PGE-shutoff-Alameda-Contra-Costa-14560986.php

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Kincade-Fire-Geyserville-evacuations-Sonoma-County-14558943.php

https://www.sfgate.com/california-wildfires/article/Map-Kincade-Fire-north-Sonoma-County-14559006.php