Santa Ana winds are sweeping across Southern California this weekend, and Southern California Edison is considering shutting off power to nearly 5,000 customers to keep its lines from sparking a wildfire. As of Friday morning, the utility listed 4,639 customers in Los Angeles County and 297 in Ventura County for possible shutoffs.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday for the Santa Monica Mountains, the Santa Susana Mountains, the Santa Clarita Valley, the western San Gabriel Mountains and the Highway 14 corridor. Forecasters expect sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph, with isolated gusts of 45 to 55 mph. They warned that if a fire starts, it could spread with extreme behavior that threatens lives and property.
Why is Santa Ana fire danger still high after recent rain?
The recent rain helped, but not enough. The weather service said live fuel moisture, a measure of the water inside living plants, is still between 65% and 80%. That leaves hillside brush dry enough to catch fast.
Farther south, the National Weather Service in San Diego posted on X that weak to locally moderate Santa Ana winds would keep the coast warm and dry, peaking Saturday morning. Gusts in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties could reach 25 to 35 mph and hit 40 mph in mountain passes and canyons. The winds are expected to weaken Sunday.
Why could Santa Ana shutoffs hit harder this year?
Nearly 5,000 customers sounds small. During a Santa Ana event on Oct. 16, Edison cut power to more than 70,000 customers across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. During the January 2025 windstorms, Edison’s own report counted more than 363,000 customers who lost power on purpose…