High winds strong enough to knock down tree limbs and power lines will lash several areas of the Southland beginning today, forecasters said.
A high wind watch scheduled to last until Thursday afternoon will go into effect at 2 p.m. today in the San Gabriel Mountains, where forecasters expect winds of between 25 and 40 miles per hour, with 60-mph gusts.
The winds could knock down trees and power lines and make driving difficult, especially for motorists in high-profile vehicles, according to an NWS statement.
The high wind watch, which reflects an expectation of gusts of 58 mph or more, went into effect in the San Gabriels in Ventura and Los Angeles counties Tuesday and was scheduled to remain in force through Thursday afternoon.
There was also a high wind watch in the Antelope Valley but it expired Tuesday. However, an even more serious high wind warning, indicating 58-mph gusts are occurring or imminent, will be in force in the Antelope Valley from 2 p.m. today until 3 a.m. Wednesday, the NWS announced this morning.
This morning’s strongest gusts were in and around the Antelope Valley — 53 mph at Poppy Park, 49 mph at Sandberg, 48 mph at Saddleback Butte and 46 mph at Lake Palmdale. Slightly weaker gusts were recorded in the San Gabriels — 45 mph at Whitaker Peak, 34 mph at Camp Nine.
Amid northwest winds of 25-40 mph and 60 mph gusts, the winds sweeping the Antelope Valley could cause driving difficulties on the Antelope Valley (14)Freeway and Pearblossom Highway, forecasters said.
A high wind watch was also scheduled in inland areas of Orange County — from late tonight through Thursday afternoon.
Also issued this morning was a wind advisory, which will be in force from 2 p.m. today until 3 p.m. Thursday in the Santa Clarita Valley, where northwest-to-north winds of 15-25 mph, gusting to 50 mph, are expected beginning this afternoon, an NWS statement said.
Off the coast, northwest winds of 20 to 30 knots gusting to 35 knots were recorded this morning and were expected to rise to 25-35 knots, with 40- knot gusts, reported the NWS, which issued a gale warning scheduled to be in effect until 3 a.m. Wednesday.
The NWS forecast a combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies today and highs of 64 in San Clemente; 67 on Mount Wilson, in Avalon and Laguna Beach; 69 at LAX and in Newport Beach; 72 in Long Beach, Palmdale and Lancaster; 73 in downtown L.A., Mission Viejo and Irvine; 74 in Anaheim; 75 in Saugus, Burbank and San Gabriel; 76 in Pasadena and Fullerton; and 77 in Woodland Hills and Yorba Linda.
Temperatures were expected to rise substantially Wednesday — by 10 degrees and more in some communities — and by a few more degrees on Thursday before a gradual cooling trend begins Friday, taking temperatures roughly back to today’s levels on Monday.
