PG&E lineman string a new power line in Menlo Park, Calif., forcing a detour of traffic from northbound Highway 101, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. San Mateo County was one of the hardest hit areas for power outages from the recent wind storms. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Hundreds of Pacific Gas & Electric customers in Walnut Creek and Oakland reported power outages Sunday afternoon, as an October heat wave pushed temperatures over 100 degrees in parts of the East Bay.
The PG&E outages impacted customers in Walnut Creek’s Northgate and Diablo Shadows neighborhood, just west of Mount Diablo State Park, and Oakland’s hilly Montclair neighborhood. The power is estimated to be restored Sunday by 8:30 p.m. for Montclair and 10 p.m. in Walnut Creek.
Early last week, PG&E had warned customers in 11 counties, including Alameda and Contra Costa counties, about potential planned shutoffs during this week due to gusty winds that increased fire danger. Alameda and Contra Costa counties were later removed from the list of counties that could be affected by the power shutoffs.
On Sunday, temperatures reached highs of 94 degrees in Oakland and San Francisco, 97 degrees in Fremont, 98 degrees in Walnut Creek and Lafayette, 99 degrees in San Jose and Danville, according to the National Weather Service.
An excessive heat warning remains in place until 11 p.m. this evening across much of the Bay Area.
Originally published at Kate Talerico