Community Corner
PG&E Installs 100th Weather Station In 2018 To Help Predict Fires
The deadly 2017 wildfires in the North Bay and elsewhere prompted the expansion of the weather stations.
BAY AREA, CA – PG&E announced this week it has installed its 100th new weather station since January to capture meteorological data to better predict where extreme wildfires may occur.
Of the new weather stations, four of them are in Sonoma County. By the end of the year, there will be 200 new stations in high fire-threat areas in 16 California counties, including six in the Bay Area, according to PG&E.
The expansion of the weather stations is part of the additional safety precautions that PG&E is taking in its Community Wildfire Safety Program after the deadly 2017 wildfires in the North Bay and elsewhere.
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Data from the weather stations is streamed in real time and is available to state and local agencies and the public through online sources that include the National Weather Service.
"With these new, additional weather stations, PG&E is able to capture additional real-time data related to temperature, wind speeds and humidity levels to provide improved awareness of current fire danger conditions," said Kevin Dasso, PG&E vice president of electric asset management.
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"Our team of meteorologists and wildfire safety experts will use this data to determine any needed actions the company can take to help reduce wildfire risks," Dasso said.
As an example, PG&E may as a last resort during extreme fire conditions temporarily turn off electric power lines for safety.
PG&E officials said no single factor will drive a public safety power shutoff.
The utility will consider a combination of criteria that includes a Red Flag Warning declared by the National Weather Service, humidity levels at 20 percent or lower, sustained winds above 25 mph and gusts exceeding 45 mph, critically dry vegetation that could serve as fuel for a wildfire, and on-the-ground, real-time observations by PG&E field crews.
Sonoma County officials plan to install fire cameras at seven locations that will feed video into what it calls the Common Operating Picture to provide real-time information to first responders and emergency managers.
By Bay City News Service / Image via PG&E
