Powerful Bay Area Winds Topple Trees and Power Lines

Tens of thousands of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers were without power in the Bay Area Tuesday morning as powerful winds battered the region, damaging property, delaying BART and sparking wildfires sparking in the middle of an arid winter.

Offshore winds were particularly strong at higher elevations. One sensor, located in Sonomoa County at about 3,880 feet in elevation, showed peak wind speeds of 97 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The windy weather has collided with an alarmingly dry winter season, creating conditions that appear to have contributed to several fires that sprouted up late Monday and early Tuesday — highly unusual events for late January.

Credit: Jessica Christian
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