Power outage hits downtown Walnut Creek

High winds and heavy rains have caused power outages that have knocked out traffic lights and forced businesses to close. 

PG&E reports that about 2,970 PG&E customers are without power. The outage started around 12:40 p.m., and crews were said to be on their way.  

Power outages in Walnut Creek: that "scoop" and other news from PG&E

And  also from  PG&E: its Bay Area storm status update as of 3 p.m., including the news--good or bad, depending on your point of view--that strong storms are expected to contine through the week. The bad news, of course, includes possible power outages. You can check the PG&E power outage map here at the PG&E media newsroom.

PG&E crews have been working around the clock to restore power to our customers affected by this significant storm series.

Strong storms are expected to continue impacting our service area throughout the week, with the most powerful weather front expected to arrive on Wednesday. PG&E is preparing for this new front by bringing in additional contract crews and mutual aid crews from other utilities to assist with restoration efforts.


It is important that customers prepare for the possibility that their electricity could be out for the next several days, and if the power has been restored, it could go out again because of this upcoming stronger weather system.

Schools in the hardest hit areas may be without power beginning Wednesday morning. Please contact your local school or school district office for more information.


Power outages can be reported to PG&E by calling (800) 743-5002. We appreciate our customers' patience as we work to assess damage and restore power as safely and quickly as possible.

So far, a total of more than 477,000 customers have had their service affected. As of 2:45 p.m., more than 53,000 customers were without power throughout the service area. More than 4,400 customers were without power in the Bay Area.

Downed electric lines cut power throughout Walnut Creek

High winds knocked down live power lines in several locations in Walnut Creek, closing roads, and darkening homes, traffic lights, and businesses, including Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.

As of about 2:20 p.m., PG&E was reporting about 540 customers without power in eastern Walnut Creek, due to a downed along Homestead Drive and Marshall Drive. PG&E says that power outage began around 11:30 a.m.

Shortly before, I had been out and about and saw two downed wires along Newell Avenue. One was between the gas stations at South California Boulevard, and the other was located on a residential portion of Newell near Olympic Boulevard. Power was out at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods (Yes, I was trying to do some grocery shopping) and at scattered intersections.

A man was doing pro bono traffic control at the intersection of Newell Avenue and Magnolia Way. He had jumped out of SUV and was warning Newell Avenue through traffic from going through. A half hour earlier, he had been passing along that stretch, when he saw behind the power line snap, and "lots of white smoke." Residents along Newell reported that their power was out.

Power for customers in eastern Walnut Creek is expected to be restored by 6 or 6:30 p.m.