After a day that saw trees and power lines topple, gusty winds will continue to lash the Southland today but die down later in the day, and temperatures will rise.
Until early this afternoon, wind gusts of between 60 and 70 miles per hours are expected in the San Gabriel Mountains while gusts of between 40 and 50 mph lash coastal and valley areas, National Weather Service forecasters said.
“The gusty winds will continue to bring the threat for downed trees and branches … especially since many trees have become weakened and diseased due to the long-term drought,” warned an NWS statement.
A high wind warning was scheduled to be in force until 2 p.m. in the San Gabriels, where winds of between 25 and 40 mph were forecast, along with 60- 70-mph gusts. A high wind warning indicates expectations of gusts of at least 58 mph.
A less serious wind advisory was scheduled until 2 p.m. in the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys, the Santa Monica Mountains recreational area, and the L.A. coastal zone, consisting of beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles, the downtown area, and the Hollywood Hills. In Orange County, a wind advisory will be in effect in coastal areas until 10 a.m. and in inland areas until 1 p.m.
Gusts of up to 40 mph may buffet metropolitan Los Angeles while the advisory is in effect while 50-mph-gusts were expected in the valleys, rising to 60 mph in the Santa Monicas.
“Strong winds can make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles,” warned an NWS statement. “When driving, use extra caution. Be prepared for sudden gusty cross winds, as well as downed trees and branches.”
Because of the wind, nearly 10,000 customers were without electrical service in various areas of Los Angeles County as of Monday night, including about 5,700 in the city of Los Angeles, authorities said.
Los Angeles areas struck by outages included Koreatown, where 2,789 Department of Water and Power customers were without electricity; Mid-Wilshire, where 1,700 were without power; Hollywood Hills, with power out to 323 customers; Studio City, with 265 customers without service; and Larchmont, where 225 customers were without power, the utility reported.
Most of the outages were wind-related. Since Monday morning, crews restored power to more than 16,785 customers, according to the DWP.
Southern California Edison, meanwhile reported that 3,815 customers were without service in various communities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Another 1,586 of its customers were without electrical service in Orange County, according to SCE.
Along the coast, more high surf was expected today, but it will be considerably tamer in the Southland than along the Central Coast. West-facing beaches in L.A. and Ventura counties will see breakers of four to six feet, with local sets of eight feet, as more gale-force winds lash coastal waters, NWS forecasters said.
Temperatures, which largely remained in the 60s Monday, were expected to climb into the 70s today.
The NWS forecast sunny skies today and highs of 62 in Lancaster; 63 in Palmdale; 64 on Mount Wilson; 68 in San Clemente; 69 Saugus, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach; 70 in Avalon; 71 in Anaheim, Fullerton and Irvine; 72 at LAX and in San Gabriel; 73 in Long Beach, Yorba Linda and Mission Viejo; and 74 in downtown L.A., Pasadena, Burbank and Woodland Hills. Temperatures are expected to rise a few degrees Wednesday and again Thursday.
