Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is preparing for a significant winter storm forecast to impact Northern and Central California starting Monday, February 16, 2026. The company is mobilizing crews and pre-positioning resources in anticipation of possible damage to electric equipment and power outages.
PG&E meteorologists report that the incoming storm will bring heavy rain, wind gusts up to 60 mph, and mountain snow reaching elevations as low as 2,000 feet—an unusual occurrence for this season. Substantial snow accumulations are expected above 3,000 feet from Monday night through Tuesday. The storm system is projected to arrive early Monday morning and weaken by Wednesday evening.
Unlike typical winter storms, this event will unfold in several phases with multiple systems passing through the region. This may increase risks associated with wind, rain, and snow over an extended period.
Angie Gibson, PG&E Emergency Preparedness and Response Vice President, said: “In addition to our customer outreach and engagement, as part of our preparation and resource planning ahead of storms or other seasonal weather events, we also prioritize engagement with state and local agency partners to help support a safe, efficient, coordinated response.”
To support its response efforts, PG&E is activating its Emergency Operations Center. The company’s expanded use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine-learning weather models helps provide early insights into how the storm could affect electric infrastructure. These tools analyze real-time atmospheric data alongside historical outage patterns to guide where crews and equipment should be placed before impacts occur.
Peter Kenny, PG&E Electric Transmission and Distribution Senior Vice President stated: “The safety of our hometowns remains our most important responsibility and we are actively monitoring the weather system and analyzing data to align the strategic placement of crews and resources to support a safe and swift response to any storm-related outages.”
Customers are advised to stay updated on local weather conditions, prepare for potential outages, and take necessary safety measures—particularly in areas susceptible to flooding or heavy snowfall. PG&E will provide outage updates on its website at https://www.pge.com/outages/ as well as through PG&E Currents.
PG&E serves over 16 million people across approximately 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. Additional information about the company can be found at https://www.pge.com/ or https://www.pge.com/news/.
More details about the company’s preparations can be found at https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ahead-of-winter-storm-pge-mobilizes-crews-pre-positions-resources-to-support-safe-efficient-response-302687955.html
