One month ago, down to the day, California saw its last real rainstorm. While that system had some pep in its step, this one will be making itself comfortable.
The wet weather is expected to extend from Thursday through Sunday, with the heaviest downpour hitting Thursday overnight to early Friday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for portions of Southern California Edison’s service area, as rain totals are forecast to be 1-2 inches for most areas and 2-4 inches in many mountain communities.
Heavy snow is also possible above 8,000 feet with the potential to hit 6-12 inches — and even 18 inches at higher elevations.
The rapid rainfall could lead to hazardous debris flow as the heavy downpour loosens surrounding soil and rocks. This is especially common in areas that have recently experienced wildfires, since burned vegetation can’t hold soil in place.
Crews are available and on call if needed for any emergent issues. They will respond as safely and quickly as possible to restore power, if any weather-related outages occur. SCE reminds customers to be mindful of rainy day hazards.
Here are some additional safety tips:
- Never try to remove a broken tree limb or branch that has come in contact with a power line.
- Sign up for your community’s warning system and SCE alerts.
- Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately to 800-611-1911.
- Never cross a road with water or mud flowing. “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”
- Never cross a bridge if you see a flow approaching, because it can grow faster and larger too quickly for you to escape.
- If you do get stuck in the path of a landslide, move uphill as quickly as possible.
- Avoid river valleys and low-lying areas during times of potential floods and mudslides.
- Install surge protectors to help safeguard valuable electronic equipment, such as computers and home entertainment systems.
- Check your vehicle’s wiper blades and tire tread, use caution when driving and do not enter flooded areas. Contact your city or county emergency services for flood preparation and sandbag locations.
- Make a safety preparedness plan for your family that includes a list and location of emergency items such as water bottles, flashlights, first aid kits, extra blankets, etc.
To check on the status of an outage or to report an outage, visit sce.com/outagemap.
