California has a human-caused global warming problem. I lived there for a few years. Thank goodness I left.

Wall Street Journal

U.S.

Heat Wave Forces Power Outages in California

Record, near-record temperatures expected for a week or more.

By Peter Grant

August 15, 2020

Record-breaking high temperatures persisted in parts of California Saturday, as officials were on guard against wildfires and closely monitoring the power grid.

On Friday, the California Independent System Operator, which manages the state’s power grid, called for rotating outages throughout the state for the first time since 2001.

The system operator lifted the Stage 3 electrical emergency a few hours later, but only after PG&E Corp, one of the state’s largest utilities, had begun to cut power to about 220,000 customers. Service had been restored by late Friday night, PG&E said on Twitter.

The rotating outages were ordered because of the increased electricity demand from customers running air conditioners and other devices. Demand outpaced available supply, forcing the operator “to dip into its operating reserves,” it said in a written statement.

California officials also are girding themselves for what is expected to be a bad wildfire season. The Lake Fire, which started last week near Lake Hughes north of Los Angeles, had burned 17,482 acres and was only 12% contained as of Friday night, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The high temperatures are expected to persist for a week or more, said Bob Oravec, a forecaster for the National Weather Service. The heat wave has brought record or near-record temperatures in the 105- to 110-degree range to places like Stockton, Sacramento and Fresno, he said.

Los Angeles was forecast to hit a record 99 on Saturday, breaking its previous record of 98, Mr. Oravec said.

The heat wave is caused by a large area of high pressure in the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere, according to the weather service.

“It’s not an unusual pattern to have in the summer in the Southwest,” Mr. Oravec said. “It still produces pretty impactful weather and a drain on the power grid.”

The California Independent System Operator said rotating outages enable the power grid to avoid widespread and more prolonged disruption during an emergency. The operator said it was “closely monitoring supply and demand during the extreme heat event.”