With an incoming Pacific storm, Southern California is about to get its first extended period of wet weather in 2020.
Rainfall is forecast to start Monday night with most areas expected to receive the heaviest precipitation on Tuesday , according to the National
Weather Service. Moderate rains will continue on Wednesday and light rains are expected through the weekend.
Los Angeles and Orange Counties could see between 2-5 inches of rain through Wednesday. The rainfall will also bring gusty winds and thunderstorms in some areas.
Southern California Edison crews and personnel are ready to respond to possible power outages due to the incoming rainstorms. The utility reminds customers to never approach or touch a downed power line and to call 911 immediately.
Customers can report or inquire about outages at 800-611-1911 and get the latest outage information at sce.com/outages. Updates are also available at twitter.com/sce and facebook.com/sce.
Here are some additional winter storm safety tips:
- 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. If you see a downed wire, call 911. Inform the operator it’s an electrical emergency.
- Beware during flooding. Just six inches of moving water can knock you down and two feet can sweep your vehicle away.
- Never try to remove a broken tree limb or branch that has come in contact with a power line.
- Make sure you have battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they’re fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage. Do not use candles because they pose a fire hazard.
- If you use a generator, place it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it, using heavy-duty extension cords. Connecting generators directly to household circuits creates “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
- Don’t leave your space heater unattended and unplug it when not in use. Consider getting a space heater that has an automatic shut-off.
- When power is out, traffic signals may be out so approach those intersections as four-way stops.
For more safety tips, visit: sce.com/safety.
