California Cuts Power as 70-Mph Winds Near

Red Flag Warnings cover parts of California as dry conditions and strong winds raise fire risk. Southern California faces Santa Ana gusts up to 70 mph, with warnings for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties Thursday through Saturday and interior Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties Friday. NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard at 1:16 p.m. Thursday warned Lake Casitas and Ojai Valley until Saturday 8 p.m., expecting east winds 15-25 mph, gusts to 40 mph, and humidity 8-15%. NWS said if fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property. NWS San Francisco warned North Bay Interior Mountains from 10 p.m. Thursday to 11 a.m. Friday, with humidity recoveries of only 14-24%. Napa mountains have a parallel warning through Friday morning. PG&E has 3,158 Napa customers without power from a shutoff begun late Saturday, with centers at Napa Elks Lodge and Pacific Union College. SCE and PG&E have begun or are considering shutoffs affecting tens of thousands. The Guardian reported multiple Thursday wildfires including the Henderson fire near San Diego and evacuations. State officials are staging resources across seven counties.