SoCal battered by 'life-threatening' wind storm. Here's what you should know

Forecasters are warning residents about damaging winds and extreme fire weather for the Southland in what could be the strongest wind event since 2011.

The city of Los Angeles is declaring a state of emergency through the wind event, Council President Marqueece Harris Dawson said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

Officials said the worst of the winds is yet to come, with the most significant conditions expected between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 5 a.m. Wednesday.

About those winds

On social media, the National Weather Service even called it "life-threatening" and warned that areas not typically affected by big wind events won't be spared. The National Weather Service also said turbulence could force delays at LAX, Hollywood Burbank and Long Beach airports. There’s been at least 210 delays at LAX as of Tuesday evening, according to Flight Aware, and more than 60 at Hollywood Burbank.

The National Weather Service says the widespread windstorm is expected Tuesday through Wednesday morning across much of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. The strongest wind gusts could reach up to 80 mph and even 100 mph in the mountains and foothills. Officials say the areas of greatest concern are for communities between and along the 118 to 210 freeways from Simi Valley to Claremont.

Caltrans officials are warning drivers to be extra careful on the 118, 210, and 5 Freeways from Simi Valley to Claremont. Big rigs and trailers could topple with the winds.

A “particularly dangerous situation” is expected for parts of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Widespread winds of 40 to 60 mph with low relative humidity is expected, and forecasters warned that fires could spread “VERY rapidly.”

Wind speeds reached 86 mph at the Magic Mountain Truck Trail in Santa Clarita, 62 mph at Escondido Canyon, and 52 mph at the Van Nuys Airport as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

A dust advisory is in effect until 6 p.m. Wednesday for parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. The air quality could become unhealthy or worse from the dust, or ash spread from the recent Line, Airport, and Bridge fire burn scars. You can check the current air quality in your neighborhood here.

Red flag warning

A downed tree in Burbank on Tuesday morning during the wind storm.

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Makenna Sievertson

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LAist

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A red flag warning kicked in 10 a.m. Tuesday for L.A. and Ventura counties until 6 p.m. Thursday due to the strong Santa Ana winds, which has led to downed trees and power outages.

Residents living near wildland areas should be ready to evacuate in case a wildfire breaks out, like the Palisades Fire that sparked in the Santa Monica Mountains. 

In anticipation of the danger, CalFire has strategically placed 45 fire engines across Southern California and is urging residents to forgo any outdoor activities that may create a spark.

More than 41,000 Southern California Edison customers are without power as of Tuesday evening, with over 43,000 more that could be impacted by upcoming scheduled outages. To check if you could be affected by a power shut off, go here.

More than 86,000 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power customers were without power as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, with more than 100 staff working to restore it. Burbank Water and Power and Glendale Water and Power have also reported outages.

Daily forecast

• Today’s weather: Cool, sunny
• Beaches: mid 60s
• Mountains: 50s-60s
• Inland: upper 60s
• Warnings and advisories: Red Flag warning, High Wind warnings, Fire weather watch

We're looking at cold and windy conditions Tuesday. Temperatures across the board will drop between 5 and 10 degrees. For the coast that means highs in the upper 60s around L.A. and Orange County beaches to around 70 degrees for the inland coast.

Temperatures will drop significantly in the valleys where the warmest areas won't go past 69 degrees. Expect daytime highs to reach the upper 60s for L.A. County valleys and the Inland Empire.

Cooler conditions for the high desert are in store today with temperatures reaching the mid to upper 50s, and a high of 70 degrees for Coachella Valley.

Tonight's lows will drop to the upper 40s.

How to stay safe in high-risk areas

• Back your car into your driveway and have your go bag in the car, ready to leave at a moment’s notice
• Sign up for alerts. If you get an emergency alert, follow the instructions given by emergency services. They’ll be coordinating evacuations, and will make efforts to keep roads from getting clogged
• Consider leaving long before any fire breaks out. In some high risk areas, including canyons, authorities say some residents leave as soon as a red flag event starts

Orange County, the Inland Empire and Riverside and San Bernardino county mountains are also under a high wind watch starting this morning through Wednesday night, with gusts of up to 60 mph possible.

Wind-related impacts

The Bureau of Street Services has received 395 tree emergency requests across the city as of Tuesday evening, according to Unified LA.

Heads up to commuters: Topanga Canyon Boulevard is closed except for wildfire evacuations.

And citing "worsening weather conditions and safety concerns," officials said all Malibu schools will be closed Tuesday.

L.A. officials are also warning residents to heed red flag-related parking restrictions on certain narrow streets to free up access to emergency vehicles. A map is available here.

L.A. Metro is advising riders to expect delays on several lines due to debris and Caltrans work.

In Burbank, the Debell Golf Course, Valley Skate Park, Joslyn Adult Center, and Earthwalk Park are closed, according to the city.

Pasadena Unified School District schools are staying open, but students have been kept indoors. Families are asked to pick up their children as soon as possible after school. The city’s Afterschool Adventures Program will be closed, but some programs will continue as planned.

The Griffith Park, Hansen Dam, Encino / Balboa, Woodley Lakes, Roosevelt, and Los Feliz golf courses are closed until further notice.

The L.A. Zoo is closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to the "unusually dangerous winds."

President Joe Biden was expected to hold a news conference in the Coachella Valley on Tuesday, but it was canceled because of the windy weather.

Safety tips on downed power lines

Advice from Southern California Edison

• Never touch a fallen power line. Call the power company to report fallen power lines.
• Do not drive through standing water if downed powerlines are in the water.
• If you’re in a vehicle with a fallen power line on it, stay in the vehicle and remain calm until help arrives. It is OK to use your cellphone to call 911. If you must leave the vehicle, remember to exit away from downed power lines and exit by jumping from the vehicle and landing with both feet together. You must not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then proceed away from the vehicle by shuffling and not picking up your feet until you are several yards away. 
• Water and electricity don’t mix. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Do not step in or enter any water that a downed power line may be touching.

Advice from the CDC if you believe someone has been electrocuted

1. Look first. Don't touch. The person may still be in contact with the electrical source. Touching the person may pass the current through you.
2. Call or have someone else call 911 or emergency medical help.
3. Turn off the source of electricity if possible. If not, move the source away from you and the affected person using a nonconducting object made of cardboard, plastic or wood.
4. Once the person is free of the source of electricity, check the person's breathing and pulse. If either has stopped or seems dangerously slow or shallow, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately.
5. If the person is faint or pale or shows other signs of shock, lay him or her down with the head slightly lower than the trunk of the body and the legs elevated.
6. Don't touch burns, break blisters, or remove burned clothing. Electrical shock may cause burns inside the body, so be sure the person is taken to a doctor.

Advice from CalOES and AAA on driving safely in strong winds

1. Park in covered areas like a garage. If you must park on the street, avoid narrow streets to allow emergency vehicles to pass through easily, and stay clear of parking under trees that can be easily uprooted or structures that could topple.
2. Fill up on gas, in case you need to evacuate.
3. When driving on freeways and busy streets, stick to the speed limit and avoid hard braking.
4. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
5. Keep an eye out for hazards on the road, especially if they can impede visibility. Pull over and wait for the winds to subside if you must.
6. Avoid driving behind high profile vehicles or vehicles towing other cars as they can topple easily.