Public safety power shutoff watch: Hawaiian Electric monitoring wildfire risk conditions this week

Hawaiian Electric is monitoring developing weather conditions likely to lead to an increased risk of wildfires in parts of Maui County and Hawaiʻi Island later this week.

Customers in these areas are urged to initiate their own emergency plans should a public safety power shutoff need to be initiated, including preparations for the possibility of extended power outages Monday through Thursday (Feb. 16-19).

The National Weather Service forecast office in Honolulu reported just after 3:30 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 15) in its fire weather planning forecast that strong high pressure far north of the islands will sink southward and weaken some during the next couple of days.

This will maintain breezy trades for much of the week.

Showers riding in on the trades will be focused over windward and mauka areas. However with the breezy trades, some showers will reach leeward areas at times.

Proactive power shutoffs are one way Hawaiian Electric can help prevent wildfires when there is windy weather, low humidity and dry vegetation near Hawaiian Electric equipment, which is the case in areas such as West Maui and South Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island.

These conditions could lead to damaged powerlines or debris being blown into powerlines, which increases the risk of a fire starting.

Hawaiian Electric will keep the public informed by deploying its message broadcast system to customers in high risk areas should weather conditions intensify.

News releases and regular social media postings will also be used to provide updates and information.

Call Hawaiian Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoff Hotline toll-free at 1-844-483-8666 or visit the Hawaiian Electric website for additional information, maps of public safety power shutoff areas and more.