Power Outages And Toppled Trees: Powerful Winds Sweep SoCal

Strong Santa Ana winds have been sweeping across Southern California, knocking out power for thousands of people, toppling trees, and bringing minor damage to the region on Thursday.

Los Angeles and Ventura counties have been getting gusts between 45 and 65 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Peak speeds reached between 70 and 86 mph, including in the northern San Fernando Valley and the Santa Clarita area.

A high wind warning is in place until 4 p.m. Thursday, and they’re expected to ease up into the evening. That’s when the forecast transitions to a chance of showers and thunderstorms for Friday into Saturday.

Wild winds

Citing the weather, the L.A. Zoo is closed to the public Thursday.

Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, told LAist they’ve gotten reports of downed trees, including one in Simi Valley that landed on a house and damaged its roof.

A downed tree also damaged a couple of parked cars in the Lake Balboa area, pulling on utility lines in the process.

“Try to park away from, and stay away from, any tall trees,” Kittell advised.

SoCal Edison and the L.A. Department of Water and Power (DWP) have both reported power outages for thousands of customers.

More than 19,000 people, including those in La Canada Flintridge, El Sereno, and Mission Hills, have been affected by the dozens of power outages across L.A. County as of Thursday afternoon, according to SoCal Edison and DWP.

Looking ahead

The Santa Ana winds are expected to drop off in the next few hours, but it could stay breezy for some communities into Friday morning.

The Southern California mountains may also get some moisture as early as Thursday night, but Kittell said all areas could see a stray shower or thunderstorm over the next few days.

“It's pretty rare to start talking about rain and thunderstorms when we have Santa Ana winds, but this is all driven by a low pressure system that's currently right along the California / Arizona border,” he said.

The highest chances will be up in the mountains, but most areas won’t see rain, Kittell said.

“Don't be surprised if it stays dry, but also don't be surprised if you just get a brief shower,” he said.

He recommends keeping an eye on the sky this weekend, especially if you have any outdoor events planned, and be prepared to suddenly shift locations, just in case.