Cold, Wet Weather to Hit Southern California Thursday and Friday

A couple of days of cold weather and rain will hit Southern California during the evening commute on Thursday and last through Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service is predicting evening temperatures that will dip into the 40s in some areas. A few inches of rain could fall along the Sierra Nevada and the Los Angeles basin could get as much as an inch of rain. The wet weather will also reach some desert areas, including Palm Springs.

With heavy rain expected at times, Southern California Edison will have extra crews ready to respond to any additional outages in its 50,000-square-mile service territory.

“Although the system is currently performing well, we will be closely monitoring these latest rainstorms,” said Jim Cherrie, SCE director of Grid Operations. “Our crews are prepared to respond to all power outages and possible downed wires.”

The predicted rainfall could cause excess water on highways and possible flash flooding and mudslides, according to the National Weather Service. If you come across any downed electrical wires, stay away and call 911. When power is out, traffic signals may be out too, so approach those intersections as four-way stops.

Customers may report or inquire about outages at 800-611-1911 and get the latest information using the SCE outages app at sce.com/outages. Customers can also get the latest information by visiting sce.com/staysafe or at twitter.com/sce and facebook.com/sce.

You can prepare for winter weather with these safety tips:

Watch out for electrical hazards

Winter weather can cause power lines to fall. Downed wires can electrify puddles, wet grass and the surrounding area. Never touch or step in water near a downed wire, as it can be electrified.
Always assume all wires are energized. If you see a downed wire, call 911. Inform the operator it’s an electrical emergency.

Have an outage preparedness kit ready

Keep a flashlight, cash and first-aid supplies handy.

Emergency apps

Make sure you and your phone are prepared for emergencies. Have an external rechargeable battery pack on hand to recharge your cellphone.

Trees and vegetation

Never try to remove a broken tree limb or branch in contact with a power line. The limb or branch could be energized with electricity. Stay indoors and call 911.
If you see trees or other vegetation that are dead or dying and leaning into overhead power lines, submit a tree-trimming request. Call SCE at 800-655-4555.

Prepare your home