PG&E Installs New Weather Station In Fairfax

FAIRFAX, CA – Pacific Gas and Electric Company has installed its 100th new weather station this year system-wide, with several stations in Marin County.

The weather stations further enhance the utility's capacity to capture additional meteorological data to better predict where extreme wildfire danger could happen, according to PG&E. The expansion is part of the utility's additional safety precautions following the 2017 wildfires.

Since the start of the year, PG&E has installed more than 100 new weather stations. Eight of the stations are in Marin County. Three stations have been installed in Nicasio, while one station was installed in Mill Valley, Woodacre, Fairfax, Inverness and Novato.

Approximately 200 new stations in high fire-threat areas across the utility's service area are expected to be installed by the end of the year, according to PG&E.

The stations collect data that is streamed in real-time and available to state and local agencies and the public through online sources such as the National Weather Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and MesoWest.

"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," Kevin Dasso, PG&E vice president of electric asset management, said in a statement. "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."

Image via PG&E