Hundreds of thousands of people lost power in dozens of California counties Sunday as weather forecasters predicted the most powerful winds of the year and the potential for more raging wildfires, officials said.

Pacific Gas & Electric, which supplies power to millions across Northern and Central California, had shut off electricity to 225,000 customers by Sunday night, said Mark Quinlan, the utility's incident commander.

Earlier, forecasters with the National Weather Service said the strongest winds of the year were anticipated in some areas of the state through Monday.

Forecasters were also predicting powerful winds and low humidity in Southern California