The team of meteorologists from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. are forecasting stormy and windy weather this weekend in parts of northern California.

PG&E is ready and has a plan to deal with any outages the storm system may cause and reminds customers to take the necessary steps to prepare and stay safe.

An early-season weather system is expected to pass through northern California on Saturday morning and Sunday, bringing rain and gusty / gusty winds. A slight risk of a thunderstorm in the Sacramento Valley on Sunday morning is also possible.

“This storm has the potential to cause power outages due to rain and gusty winds. We urge our clients to have a plan to keep themselves and their families safe. Our meteorology team closely monitors dynamic weather conditions and works with our field operations teams to ensure that we are ready to restore outages safely and as quickly as possible, ”said Scott Strenfel, meteorologist principal of PG&E.

In addition, PG&E is prepared for the possibility of flashovers, a phenomenon that occurs with the first rain or light mist after summer and which can lead to pole fires and blackouts.

The PG&E meteorology team has developed a storm failure forecasting model that incorporates real-time weather forecasts, combined with 30 years of historical storm data and system knowledge to accurately show where and when impacts. storms will be the most severe.

This model allows the company to prepare crews and equipment for approaching storms to enable rapid response to outages.

Storm safety tips

– Never touch fallen wires: if you see a fallen power line, assume it is live and extremely dangerous. Do not touch it or try to move it and keep children and animals away. Immediately report power line outages by dialing 9-1-1 and calling PG&E at 1-800-743-5002.

– Use generators safely: Customers with emergency power generators should ensure that they are properly installed by a licensed electrician in a well-ventilated area. Incorrectly installed generators represent a significant danger for customers, as well as for crews working on power lines. If you are using portable generators, make sure they are in a well ventilated area.

– Use flashlights, not candles: During a power outage, use battery-powered flashlights and not candles, due to the risk of fire. And keep extra batteries on hand. If you must use candles, please keep them away from curtains, lampshades, animals and small children. Do not leave candles unattended.

– Have a backup phone: If you have a phone system that requires electricity to operate, such as a cordless phone or answering machine, plan to have a standard phone or cell phone ready as a backup. Having a portable charger helps keep your cell phone running.

– Have fresh drinking water, ice: Freeze plastic containers filled with water to make ice packs that can be placed in your fridge / freezer during an outage to prevent food from spoiling. Blue ice from your picnic cooler also works well in the freezer.

– Secure Outdoor Furniture: Patio furniture, lightweight garden structures, and decorative lawn items should be secure as they can be blown by high winds and damage overhead power lines and property.

– Switch off the devices: In the event of a fault, unplug or turn off all electrical devices to avoid overloading the circuits and to avoid the risk of fire when the power is restored. Just leave a single lamp on to alert you when power returns. Turn on your devices one by one when conditions return to normal.

– Clean Safely: After the storm has passed, be sure to clean safely. Never touch fallen wires and always call 8-1-1 or visit www.811express.com at least two full working days before digging to ensure all underground utilities are safely marked.

You can find more tips on www.pge.com/beprepared.