How fire scientist in charge of California power shutoffs uses a ‘time machine’

How fire scientist in charge of California power shutoffs uses a ‘time machine’

At PG&E’s weather lab in San Ramon, Scott Strenfel studies a huge digital map on the wall displaying temperatures, dew points and humidity levels across California. At a spot in Kern Hills outside of Bakersfield, wind gusts of 39 mph were forecast to hit. “Hey team, thunderstorm outflow down in Kern at 3 p.m.,” Strenfel calls out to his fellow scientists, each behind double computer screens. “You guys see it?” Strenfel leads PG&E’s meteorology o…