High winds and hot, dry conditions are forecast in portions of Southern California through Friday and Southern California Edison reminds customers that outages might occur and to never approach or touch downed power lines.

The National Weather Service predicts gusty winds across much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, the deserts and hot, dry weather in the mountain areas.

Motorists are advised to use caution while driving and to be prepared for sudden gusty crosswinds that can affect control of your vehicle. Also watch out for flying tree fronds that can land in power lines and cause outages

If you see a downed power line or dangling wire — even if it appears not to be live — don’t touch or approach it or anything in contact with it and call 911 immediately.

SCE is closely monitoring weather conditions and has crews prepared to respond. If outages occur, customers can get the latest information by visiting sce.com/safety or Twitter.com/sce. Customers can report an outage at 1-800-611-1911.

For the latest information on outage conditions, visit: sce.com/outagecenter.

Customer safety is a top priority for SCE. 

  • Watch for traffic signals that may be out. Approach those intersections as four-way stops.
  • Make sure you have a battery-operated radio and flashlights. Check the batteries to make sure they’re fresh. Use flashlights for lighting during a power outage; don’t use candles which pose a significant fire hazard.
  • Do not use any equipment indoors that is designated for outdoor heating or cooking. Such equipment can emit carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
  • If you use a generator, please use it outdoors and plug individual appliances directly into it using a heavy-duty extension cord. Connecting generators directly to household circuits create “backfeed,” which is dangerous to repair crews.
  • If an outage occurs, leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep food as fresh as possible. Place blocks of ice inside to help keep food cold. Check food carefully for signs of spoilage.
  • Check on your neighbors and household pets to make sure they’re safe.