Power Outages and Traffic Disruptions: A Morning Update
Sonora, CA, February 17, 2026
A busy Tuesday morning has been disrupted for many in the Mother Lode region due to power outages and subsequent traffic impacts. Here's a breakdown of the situation:
Arnold Area Outage:
PG&E reports that 246 customers near Arnold lost power around midnight when a tree fell onto a power line near Pine Knoll Drive. The utility company is working to restore power as quickly as possible, with the majority of customers expected to have their electricity back by early morning. However, 30 customers remain impacted, and full restoration is anticipated by 1 pm.
Tuolumne County Incident:
In Tuolumne County, between Big Hill and Cedar Ridge, 45 customers experienced a power outage after a tree hit a power line on Charles Otter Drive around 11 pm on Monday. This incident has caused traffic disruptions, and efforts are underway to restore power by 3:30 pm. For the latest information on chain controls and road closures, visit [https://mymotherlode.com/traffic].
School and Office Closures:
It's worth noting that these power outages have also led to the closure of some schools and government offices in Tuolumne County. For more details on these closures, you can refer to the earlier story at [https://mymotherlode.com/news/local/10531679/tuolumne-county-government-offices-some-schools-closed-tuesday.html].
Stay tuned for further updates as the situation develops.
