Power Outages Amid Strong Winds in San Diego County Impact Thousands

Thousands of households across San Diegans woke up in the dark Wednesday thanks to dozens of power outages reported across the county.

At the peak of the outage overnight into Wednesday, around 12,000 San Diego Gas & Electric customers were without power. The utility reported as of 12 p.m., 4,769 customers were without power in communities as north as Laguna Niguel and as east as Borrego Springs. Restoration times differ for each impacted circuit. You can click here for more details.

"Crews have made significant progress in restoring thousands of customers and are working to restore remaining customers as quickly and safely as possible," SDG&E said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.

Although the utility company stated the cause for the majority of the outages is under investigation, the issues come as powerful winds blow through the county.

SDG&E addressed the overnight outages and said they are taking steps to prepare for what is expected to be days of rainfall from at least two storm systems this week.

"SDG&E’s meteorologists continue to closely monitor weather conditions and while the first in a series of storms is subsiding, a more widespread and significant winter storm is approaching and expected to arrive in San Diego late Friday and continue through the weekend, according to forecasts," the agency said. "In anticipation of these storms, SDG&E increased the number of field crews and equipment available to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. The company’s meteorology team is also monitoring weather conditions minute-by-minute to help provide situational awareness to crews working hard to maintain the infrastructure that serves our communities."

SDG&E also urges customers to take their own steps to prepare for windy weather by:

• securing outdoor furniture that could float away
• Driving safely and allowing more time to brake as to not crash into transformers or power poles
• Keep a battery-operated radio and flashlights handy in your home
• make backup arrangements in case of an unplanned outage
• slow down for SDG&E crews working in the field

If you do see a downed power line:

• always assume its energized and stay away
• call 911 and SDG&E at 800-411-7343
• Don't touch anyone who has come into contact with a power line and call 911 immediately

A cold winter storm has pushed into San Diego County, bringing with it buckets of rain, low-elevation snow, high surf and strong winds. Much of the county is under a watch, warning or advisory by the National Weather Service, with nearly all of the region impacted by wind.

At the coast, a high wind warning is in effect as impacted areas face gusts up to 60 mph. For valleys, a wind advisory has been issued due to the potential for up to 45 mph gusts. Desert communities are under a high wind warning as they brace for winds of 35 to 55 mph, with isolated gusts up to 85 mph. And the mountains, which are under a winter storm watch, may be met with the strongest winds with the potential for gusts as high as 90 mph.