Power Outage Hits Over 10,000 Pacifica PG&E Customers

Severe storm brings down power lines, blocks Highway 1 in both directions.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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More than 10,000 PG&E customers in Pacifica, California were left without power on Thursday morning after the latest storm battered the Bay Area with heavy rain and gusty winds. The outage was reported around 5:30 a.m., and a severe traffic alert has been issued due to downed power lines on Highway 1 north of Manor Drive, blocking all lanes in both directions.

Why it matters

Power outages can have significant impacts on communities, disrupting daily life, commerce, and critical services. This outage comes after a severe storm hit the region, highlighting the vulnerability of aging infrastructure to extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

The details

PG&E, the local utility provider, reported the outage around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday. The outage follows a storm that brought heavy rain and strong winds to the Bay Area on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. The California Highway Patrol has issued a severe traffic alert due to downed power lines on northbound and southbound Highway 1 north of Manor Drive, blocking all lanes in both directions. There is no estimated time for when power will be restored.

  • The outage was reported around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • The severe storm hit the Bay Area on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The players

PG&E

Pacific Gas & Electric Company, the utility provider serving Pacifica and the surrounding region.

California Highway Patrol

The state law enforcement agency that has issued a severe traffic alert due to the downed power lines on Highway 1.

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The takeaway

This power outage highlights the need for continued investment in modernizing and strengthening the region's electrical grid to better withstand the impacts of extreme weather events driven by climate change.