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High winds to continue Sunday, followed by chance of rain
A Los Angeles Department of Transportation worker tends to a fallen traffic light that was blown down by heavy winds in the Van Nuys section of Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. A brief but powerful round of Santa Ana winds with gusts topping 60 mph toppled trees and power lines in Los Angeles. About 9,000 customers were without electricity in the San Fernando Valley Saturday morning.
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Richard Vogel/AP
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A high wind advisory remains in effect for L.A. and Ventura counties Sunday after Santa Ana gusts knocked out power to thousands and toppled trees Saturday. The National Weather Service said the winds will likely be followed by rain this week.
The San Fernando Valley was hit hardest by the winds, meteorologist Ryan Kittell told KPCC.
"Winds that strong, it is a little bit unusual. we don't see it every year, but maybe every few years," he said. Wind speeds reached 70 miles an hour Saturday, prompting numerous reports of downed trees and at least one collapsed billboard, Kittell said.
The winds will die down Sunday to about 35 to 45 miles per hour in the valleys and coasts. They'll be slightly higher in mountain areas, around 40 to 55 miles per hour. Kittell added that high winds mean increased fire hazard, but the recent rains have helped dampen those concerns somewhat.
"While the weather parameters are pretty close to red flag conditions," Kittell said, the vegetation — at least the live vegetation — is moist enough where it's still concerning but it's not extreme."
Sunday's lighter winds will be followed by a 40 percent chance of rain Monday, with other light showers possible later in the week as well.
"It looks like there will be some showers around the area," Kittell said, adding that each shower probably wouldn't drop more than a half inch of rain.
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