Thousands Of SoCal Residents, Businesses Under Threat Of Power Shutoff

Thousands of Southern California Edison customers are warned they may lose power Tuesday through Wednesday afternoon due to heightened fire risk prompted by the ongoing warming trend.

According to SCE, a Public Safety Power Shutoff could occur at any time Tuesday through 3 p.m. Wednesday.

"Be prepared for a PSPS during this time ...," the utility reported.

A PSPS occurs when SCE temporarily shuts off power for a period of time to reduce the risk of a wildfire caused by utility equipment. Dangerous fire weather conditions — which include strong winds, dry vegetation, and low humidity — drive PSPS events, SCE reports.

Nearly 2,300 SCE customers were without power early Tuesday afternoon, but more than 47,000 are at risk of losing electricity during the PSPS, according to the utility.

Most of the customers currently without power are located in Ventura County. As of early Tuesday afternoon, the shutoffs being considered are mainly in San Bernardino County, and most are in mountain and pass communities:

Los Angeles County: 7,113 customers
Riverside County: 1,648 customers
San Bernardino County: 31,506 customers
Ventura County: 6,973 customers

Click here to check your community.

Many inland Southern California communities are under a heat advisory through 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to data from the National Weather Service.

High temperatures will be 15 to 20 degrees above normal Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, the agency reported.

The warming will bring periods of gusty Santa Ana winds along and below the coastal slopes of the mountains through Wednesday, with stronger gusts to 35 to 45 mph, according to the NWS.

Read more: Dry Heat Wave, Gusty Winds To Bake SoCal This Week, Raising Fire Concerns