Santa Ana Winds Force Power Outages Across Southern California

Utilities shut off electricity to thousands as high fire risk warnings are issued for Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Tens of thousands of Southern California residents faced power outages Monday night as utility companies worked to minimize the risks posed by the Santa Ana winds, infamous for their ability to spark devastating wildfires. These powerful gusts, which can damage electrical equipment, prompted utility providers to preemptively cut power to reduce potential fire hazards.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a rare “particularly dangerous situation” (PDS) red flag warning for high fire risk in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, effective Monday evening through Tuesday. This designation is reserved for the most extreme fire conditions and was last used in early November, when the Mountain Fire consumed more than 240 structures in Ventura County, primarily homes. Before that, the region hadn’t seen a PDS red flag warning since 2020.

“This event has the potential to be as strong as the November 5th-6th Santa Ana event that led to the Mountain Fire,” the Los Angeles weather service office noted in a social media statement on Sunday.

As the winds picked up, nearly 42,000 customers in San Diego County were left without power by Monday night, and utility companies warned that more outages were likely. Southern California Edison had previously announced it was considering power shut-offs for more than 250,000 customers across seven counties. Similarly, San Diego Gas & Electric informed around 117,500 customers that they could face temporary power interruptions to mitigate wildfire risks.

By Monday evening, gusts of 50 to 60 mph were recorded in Southern California’s mountain ranges, including the Santa Ana and San Gabriel Mountains. Some gusts exceeded 60 mph, according to the NWS.

The Santa Ana winds, a hallmark of Southern California’s fall and winter seasons, blow dry and warm air from inland areas toward the coast, creating optimal conditions for wildfires. These winds are expected to persist through winter and early spring, with forecasters continuing to monitor their impact on the region.

Meanwhile, Northern California residents might experience the opposite weather pattern. The NWS reported increasing chances of a significant rainfall event later in the week for the San Francisco Bay Area, potentially bringing much-needed moisture to the state.