PG&E to cut power in Marin

PG&E has added Marin to its growing list of California counties that will experience power outages this week as part of the utility’s plan to preemptively shut off power during fire weather.

Outages are expected in portions of Sausalito, Mill Valley and West Marin beginning at midnight tonight, PG&E said. The utility has warned customers that planned outages could last several days.

Facing a red flag warning for fire weather, Marin was added to PG&E’s list Tuesday afternoon. The utility had warned on Monday it would preemptively shut off power in portions of 30 counties throughout Northern and Central California, but Marin wasn’t included in that warning. On Tuesday, the number of affected counties stretched to 34, including every Bay Area county except San Francisco.

“This is shaping up to be one of the most severe dry wind events we’ve seen in our territory in recent years,” said Deanna Contreas, a PG&E spokeswoman.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for fire weather that begins Tuesday night and extends through Thursday morning. Wind gusts are expected to reach 30 mph Tuesday night at Marin’s highest elevations, the weather service said. By Wednesday night, gusts could reach 55 mph.

This story will be updated.