As state bakes, another Flex Alert issued
California’s energy operator issues third Flex Alert in four days as electric grid confronts sizzling conditions
California’s energy operator gives the third such warning in four days amid a looming power shortage.
Amid record-breaking temperatures and raging wildfires, California’s energy operator issued a Flex Alert on Monday in an effort to stabilize the state’s electric grid.
Over the weekend, a fastmoving wildfire in Oregon knocked out some transmission lines that carry electricity into California, reducing power supplies by as much as 3,500 megawatts, the California Independent System Operator said. The lines remained unreliable Monday.
Residents were asked to conserve as much electricity as possible from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. to reduce stress on the system as continuing high temperatures across the West increased demand.
The National Weather Service said the blistering heat wave that blanketed Southern California last weekend continued Monday, with highs well into the 100s across interior areas.
Excessive heat warnings were issued for the Antelope Valley, interior San Luis Obispo County and Cuyama, areas where temperatures were forecast to climb as high as 115 degrees.
Heat advisories were also issued across Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, the Los Angeles County mountains and the Santa Clarita Valley, where temperatures were expected to reach as high as 109 degrees, forecasters said.
The sizzling conditions met with low humidity levels and gusty afternoon winds, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard, leading to elevated fire conditions across Southern California.
California’s wildfire season is already outpacing last year’s — the worst on record — according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Over the weekend, the Sugar fire in Plumas National Forest mushroomed to 83,000 acres, becoming the state’s largest wildfire of the year.
According to the latest data Monday, the fire had grown to 89,748 acres, with only 23% containment.
But there is some relief on the horizon. The heat wave is expected to break into a gradual cooling trend beginning Tuesday.
“Today is going to be the last day of extreme heat,” Sirard said Monday. “It’ll still be hot in those interior areas but likely not hot enough to have advisories.”
Multiple temperature records were set over the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Palmdale on Sunday hit 111 degrees, beating its July 11
record of 110 degrees set in 1961.
Lancaster soared to 113, beating its previous record of 111 set in 2012. Sandberg in the Antelope Valley tied its 1934 record of 98 degrees.
And in Palm Springs, Saturday’s high of 120 degrees broke the daily record of 119 degrees set in 2012.
Meteorologist Miguel Miller with the National Weather Service in San Diego said it was the fourth time Palm Springs had hit 120 or higher this year. The previous record — five times in one year — was set in 2020, he said.
“It’s definitely above normal,” he said. “Of course, it seems like we have a new normal.”
Death Valley also saw extreme temperatures during the latest heat wave. On Friday, it reached 130 degrees, breaking its daily record of 129 set in 1913, said meteorologist Chelsea Peters at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.
The all-time high remains 134 degrees, set in 1913, she said.
Monday’s Flex Alert followed similar requests issued Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to secure additional power, which helped maintain grid stability through the weekend, the agency said. The executive order remained in place Monday.
During a Flex Alert, residents are advised to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits, turn off unnecessary lights and avoid using major appliances.