Sundowners Yet Another Downer for Californians

I just read an article in TD World that discussed a uniquely-Californian weather phenomenon called “sundowners” that I hadn’t previously come across.  Talk about a downer (I know, pretty weak pun…)!  Between out-of-control forest fires, planned blackouts, and the ever-present threat of earthquakes, California is a state that just cannot catch a break when it comes to natural phenomena.  

Nuts and Bolts of Sundowners

First off, this phenomenon is extremely local and only impacts certain parts of California.  It really goes to show how each utility service territory can have its own unique challenges!

It happens when winds up to 60 mph blow from the north that are close enough to the Pacific Ocean to increase in temperature and moisture loss.  Sundowners often represent a 1-2 punch because they typically appear a couple of days before the Santa Ana winds, which can reach tropical storm strength.  The phenomenon is called a sundowner because it tends to happen at dusk.

Not only does this ‘double-whammy’ cause wind damage, but it can also accelerate the spread of even the smallest of wildfires.  It happened as recently as 2 years ago (as of the time of this writing), when the “Sherpa Fire” caught a sundowner and spread so quickly that immediate evacuations were ordered.  With 2020 shaping up to be the worst year yet for California wildfire activity, anything that accelerates the spread of a fire is extremely problematic.

There’s no doubt that it’s tough to be a Californian right now.  But every utility service territory has its own challenges.  For example, coastal utilities have to worry about the increased risk of hurricane activity and storm surges.  Utilities in the Midwest need to worry about tornados.  And even Hawaii’s electric company (HECO) has unique problems, like dealing with volcanos and protecting poles from lava damage. 

Yep, in the final; analysis, sundowners are just another example of an entry on the emergency planning index of misery.