High Winds Knock Out Power Across Northern California; Thousands Without Electricity in Humboldt and Mendocino

[Stock photo of a PG&E truck from Shellye Horowitz]

Strong winds and rainy weather slammed into Northern California last night knocking down trees and power lines. Thousands are without power.

As of Wednesday morning, about 12,000 PG&E customers in Humboldt and Mendocino counties were without power, according to PG&E spokesperson Stephanie Magallon. Outages ranged from small clusters of customers to large-scale shutoffs affecting entire communities.

In Mendocino County, some of the hardest-hit areas included Fort Bragg, with just under 3,000 customers without power; The Sea Ranch, with about 1,800 outages; Caspar, with roughly 1,000 customers affected; and Point Arena, with approximately 865 customers without electricity, Magallon said. Humboldt County also experienced outages, though some areas, including parts of Eureka, saw service restored early today as crews took advantage of improving conditions.

“The strong winds overnight were the biggest factor,” Magallon said, explaining that downed trees and vegetation contacting power lines caused most of the outages.

Humboldt County Supervisor Michelle Bushnell urged residents to report outages directly to PG&E to help speed response efforts. “PG&E needs you to call in and report your outage, they have brought in extra crews and will start assessing as soon as it’s light and safe,” she wrote on Facebook., sharing PG&E’s outage reporting number, 1-800-743-5002.

The National Weather Service in Eureka reported that High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories expired Wednesday morning for Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and Trinity counties as winds eased. However, forecasters cautioned that the break is expected to be short-lived. Another round of strong winds is forecast later Wednesday into Thursday, with a High Wind Watch issued for Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and Lake counties.

PG&E crews moved quickly during a temporary break in the weather this morning. “Our restoration efforts are in full force,” Magallon said. “We’re taking advantage of that gap before the next major storm hits.”

To prepare for the last night’s and tonight’s upcoming wind event, PG&E prestaged crews and equipment throughout the region. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Redwood Acres in Eureka was used as a staging area for emergency vehicles and PG&E resources ahead of the windstorms. County officials closed portions of Hall Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, Hubbard Avenue, and Harris Street during the staging period and asked the public to avoid the area.

Magallon confirmed that PG&E sent additional crews and equipment into the North Coast region in advance, including transformers and utility poles, to speed restoration once conditions allowed.

PG&E officials said the incoming storm could complicate repair efforts and potentially cause new outages. Crews are prioritizing work where it is safe to access damaged lines, often needing to clear fallen trees or address landslides before assessments can begin.

“Our goal is to restore as many customers as possible today before the next major storm comes in,” Magallon said. “Once conditions become dangerous again, that limits where crews can safely work.”

Magallon also noted that many PG&E crews are working through the Christmas holiday. “Our crews knew they were going to be working once we saw the forecast,” she said. “Many volunteered because they know how important it is for families to have power during the holidays.”