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SDG&E Crews Making Progress On Restoring Power; 9,500 Still Without Electricity

Taking advantage of a break in the weather, crews from San Diego Gas & Electric on Friday made headway in restoring power to customers who had been shut off in the wake of deadly wildfire conditions. As of 5 p.m., the utility reported 9,470 customers were back online after SDG&E crews patrolled power lines serving portions of East Ramona, Pala Mesa, Viejas and Sunrise Highway. Earlier in the day, crews brought back power to portions of Alpine, Bonsall and Rainbow.

Just Subtract Water – How A Dry Spell Allowed Winds To Lash California With Flames

Hot, dry Santa Ana winds will likely whip up the unseasonably fierce wildfires ravaging Southern California on Thursday, forecasters said. The gales have come at the worst time, at the end of a long dry spell. The combination of savage Santa Anas and tinder-dry plants have ignited large wildfires in the region this week, upending lives at a time when many people were preparing for the winter holidays, officials said. It served as a reminder that parts of California increasingly face a year-round threat of flames.

A Special Fires Edition

The year-end fires sweeping Southern California this week have raised a worrisome question: Where is the rain?The rainy season typically starts in October and lasts through April, with the heaviest rain coming from December through March. Precipitation has been at or above-normal in Northern California, but there has been little rain in the south.Since Oct. 1 just 2.3 inches have fallen in Los Angeles, or 5 percent of average. In San Diego, it’s 1.5 inches, or 1 percent of average, according to the California Department of Water Resources.

San Diego’s Toni Atkins Is Tapped As The First Woman Leader Of The California State Senate

California Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De León announced Thursday that the chamber is set to pick San Diego Sen. Toni Atkins as his successor, making her the first woman and first openly gay legislator to hold the leadership position, a move that is bringing praise from Democrats and Republicans alike. De León, D-Los Angeles, said in a statement that Atkins, D-San Diego, “will make history and be our Senate’s next president pro tempore. I have every confidence she will lead America’s most accomplished legislative chamber to even greater heights and build on our extraordinary progress.”

San Diego to Tap Colorado River Water Via Imperial Valley Through 2047

The San Diego County Water Authority announced Thursday it has extended through 2047 a historic agreement to secure independent water supplies from the Colorado River. The water authority’s board voted unanimously to extend the agreement with the Metropolitan Water District to transport 2 million acre-feet of Colorado River water between 2037 and 2047. Water transferred under the agreement represented 20 percent of San Diego’s needs in 2017. The complex agreement covers water originally intended for Imperial Valley farms and requires the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District to transport that water to San Diego via the Colorado River Aqueduct.

Southern California’s Wet Season Has Started Dry and No Rain Relief Is in Sight

Southern California has begun its annual wet season with paltry amounts of precipitation so far, and the forecast does not bode well through at least the middle portion of December. Strong Santa Ana winds gusting to near 80 mph this week have made conditions worse by fanning destructive wildfires in Southern California. Los Angeles has seen just 0.11 inches of rainfall since Oct. 1, which ranks as the 11th-driest start to the wet season in 141 years of records, according to meteorologist Bob Henson of wunderground.com.

Wild Winds, Low Humidity, Could Spread Wildfires Across This Week

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag fire weather warning for the coast and a wind advisory for the rest of San Diego County due to the onset of four days of Santa Ana winds and low humidity. Forecasts say the winds will peak Monday night into Tuesday morning and Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The winds will blow 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 55 mph, and isolated gusts of 70 to 80 mph at a few of the county’s highest peaks.

Longest And Strongest Santa Ana Winds Bring Fire Danger To Southern California

Dry and gusty Santa Ana winds sweeping through Southern California are predicted to bring days of critical fire weather conditions. Red Flag warnings by the National Weather Service began late Sunday and will last through Thursday. Meteorologists say relative humidity levels will plunge into the single digits and teens. Officials have dedicated extra resources to fire-prone areas. Forecasters say it could be the strongest and longest Santa Ana wind event so far this season, with gusts capable of bringing down tree branches and power lines.

Metropolitan Water District Approves Repair Of Lake Mathews’ Forebay Lining And Outlet Tower

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California approved the repair of the forebay lining and outlet tower at Lake Mathews. The Nov. 14 MWD board vote awarded a $3,248,000 contract to J.F. Shea Construction for the work while appropriating $4,570,000 for the project. The board action also found the project categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act review.

Environment Report: The Plan To Build A Giant Water Battery In San Diego County

The city of San Diego and the San Diego County Water Authority are closing in on a deal to construct a giant new hydroelectric facility in East County. Together with a private company, the city and the Water Authority would build what amounts to a water battery. The project is designed to make money off daily changes in energy prices and provide enough green energy to power 325,000 homes.