This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A windstorm from the North is on its way. Winds have already been buffeting the northern end of the county, and they're expected to hit the city and Orange County later tonight. We can blame the winds on a low pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska making its way through California.
A high surf advisory has been issued for west-facing beaches in the county. There could be strong rip tides and occasional breakers 11 feet high. The coast is expected to be hit by some strong westerly winds, according to City News Service.
Officials are cautioning drivers planning to travel through mountains or canyons tonight—especially if you're driving, say, a high-profile vehicle or an empty truck. This morning a gust of wind clocking in at 97 miles per hour was measured on the mountaintop overlooking the 5 Freeway near Pyramid Lake, CNS reports.
Tonight scattered showers could turn into snow on the mountains north of Los Angeles at 4,200 feet, which is just above the summit of the 5 Freeway that goes over the Grapevine. Gusts of up to 60 miles per hour are expected on the Grapevine-to-Castaic route. The Antelope Valley is also expected to be especially windy (as it often is), and gusts there could reach 80 miles per hour.
The wind is expected to intensify in the mid-afternoon—probably sometime around now. Officials are warning that there is a the chance of power outages and property damage in the northern part of the county. These winds are expected to last until Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said, but they could pick up again later this week.
