Storm-Related Outages Impact More Than 9K In Martinez Area

MARTINEZ, CA — More than 9,000 Martinez-area residents were among PG&E customers without power Tuesday afternoon as high winds hit Central Contra Costa County, knocking down trees and powerlines.

There were 4,568 Martinez customers impacted by an outage that started at 12:34 Tuesday. PG&E confirmed the outage was weather-related.

Another 4,420 Martinez-area customers were still impacted by an outage that started at 12:53 p.m. Tuesday and was also caused by the weather, according to PG&E.

The outages were affecting much of Martinez, including the downtown area as well as Vine Hill.

As of 3:10 p.m., the power was still out. PG&E crews were assigned but there was no estimated time for restoration.

Across the Bay Area, at least 275,000 customers were without power Tuesday, including 88,621 in the East Bay.

The soil is saturated by rain, causing more downed trees and power lines, the National Weather Service said.

Intense wind gusts have led to downed trees and wires in every part of the Bay Area, PG&E Spokesperson Megan McFarland said.

Winds of 74 mph have been clocked Tuesday at San Francisco International Airport; 97 mph at Mount Umunhum in the Santa Cruz Mountains; 93 mph along Mines Road in the East Bay; and 71 mph in the Las Trampas and Oakland hills, McFarland said.

"Elsewhere, widespread gusts 45-55 mph have been reported and will continue with isolated gusts 65+ mph possible through the Sacramento and northern San Joaquin Valleys, as well as along the Sierra foothills and over elevated terrain," McFarland said.

—Bay City News Service contributed to this report.