PG&E power shut-offs underway in Butte, Plumas, Yuba counties

FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2017 file photo, a Pacific Gas & Electric crew works on replacing poles destroyed by wildfires in Glen Ellen. FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2017 file photo, a Pacific Gas & Electric crew works on replacing poles destroyed by wildfires in Glen Ellen. Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close PG&E power shut-offs underway in Butte, Plumas, Yuba counties 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Dry, windy conditions have prompted PG&E to turn off power to 10,300 customers in three Northern California counties.

Residents in parts of Butte, Plumas and Yuba counties were notified of a Public Safety Power Shutoff starting at 10 p.m. Saturday evening. PG&E warned the shut-off could last for more than 48 hours.

The impacted towns include: Berry Creek, Brush Creek, Butte Meadows, Butte Valley, Chico, Cohasset, Feather Falls, Forbestown, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville, Paradise, Paradise Pines, Pulga, Stirling City, Yankee Hill, Storrie and Brownsville.

El Dorado, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Tehama and Yolo counties were also being monitored for fire danger and the possibility of a power shut-off.

The weekend forecast calling for warm, dry, gusty weather has led the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for the North Bay hills in effect Saturday at 8 a.m. through Sunday at 10 a.m. On Saturday night, north-easterly sustained winds are expected to be 10 to 20 mph with overnight gusts up to 35 mph.

"Any fires that develop have the potential to spread rapidly," the NWS warns.

Red flag warnings can trigger a PG&E shut-off, but the agency uses a number of factors to determine if a preemptive power outage is needed. Low humidity levels, sustained high winds and the moisture content of vegetation are also considered.

For the latest update on possible shut-offs, check PG&E's Public Safety Power Shutoff event site.

SFGATE digital reporter Amy Graff contributed to this report.