High winds whip Southern California

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 1/17/08 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Gale-force winds downed power lines and toppled trees in Southern California, briefly trapping motorists and leaving thousands without power, officials said Thursday.

Cold winds from the north prompted warnings about gusts through the afternoon.

The winds could remain strong at times through Saturday, said Stuart Seto of the National Weather Service.

An 83 mph gust - the equivalent of a Category One hurricane - was recorded in La Crescenta on the southern side of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Fernando Valley. Similar wind speeds were recorded in Angeles National Forest, northeast of Los Angeles.

Gusts of 74 mph were reported in the Malibu Hills.

About 5,000 Southern California Edison customers in the region were without power, spokesman Paul Klein said.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported about 2,300 customers had power outages.

In Rancho Cucamonga east of Los Angeles, a suspected mini-tornado blew through a mobile home park overnight and tore a piece of metal from a roof, San Bernardino County sheriff's dispatch supervisor Lehua Pahia said.

No injuries were reported.

In canyon areas of Orange County, firefighters helped free about 30 motorists who were trapped by downed power lines Wednesday evening.

"We managed to have the cars back out and no one was injured," Orange Fire Department Capt. Ian MacDonald said.

[NormsRevenge]

We've had some gusty stuff the last day and more up here in the BA as well..

[advertising guy]

just stay safe good friend

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks, will do.

I just hope it blew the squirrels away. I know they have a nest out there somewhere in one of my trees... no trees down when I was out earlier.. the ones that were gonna break did the last couple good blows..

I’d rather see the storm door open and get some more snow in the mountains.. a couple more times before spring would be nice.

[Jeff Chandler]

Global Warming

[NormsRevenge]

high winds in socal ping

how gusty was it for you?

we had some pretty good gusts

it’s supposed to calm down later today

[Argus]

I accidentally lodged my dog’s favorite toy ball way up in an oak tree in our backyard and was hoping the Santa Anas would knock it down. They blew everything else over but not that.

We need rain!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We were feeling it last night....thread here:

CA: Details of Serious, Damaging Santa Ana - NWS says offshore winds again...

Video link from local TV on this report .....thanks to Brad's Gramma:

weathernews

[the_devils_advocate_666]

Surf’s Up?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There were some 80+ gusts reported in several places....see my post just above.

And It wasn't even warm....truly ugly....

[Smogger]

In Ontario CA:

Something hit my Ford Explorer setting off the alarm at about 1 am last night. I got up to grab the keys to shut the alarm off but the power was out. It was REALLY blowing, I could hear stuff crashing up against the house.

Lots of downed trees on the way to work this morning including several 100 year old pepper trees on Euclid.

[BurbankKarl]

I heard a lot of impacts last night too...I guess they were the palm tree branches lying all over the place this morning...and other branches.

[NormsRevenge]

When the house starts creaking, I know it’s a good gust,, we don’t get that kind very often here, but go up a couple thousand feet, bad news..

We may break 60 for the first time in what seems like a couple weeks .. but then more cold next week, 50ish stuff and maybe a freeze .. global varming yaknow.. my fruit trees could use the cold weather to set the buds..

[NormsRevenge]

one of our neighbors finally had one of the bomber (Washington?) palms removed after the last blow a couple weeks ago, it was about a 50 footer,, we still have one next door,, those things are deadly.. the fronds are nasty if ya take a hit..

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It’s warmed up to 61 here.....

[NormsRevenge]

56 here,, looks like we should hit low 60s,, still pretty breezy

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

AccuWeather News Headlines

Updated: Thursday, January 17, 2008 2:25 PM

Up to 8 inches of snow fell in the western counties of Virginia Thursday. Significant snow has also occurred in West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The storm will never be a major nor'easter because another disturbance in the Great Lakes is competing for available energy in the atmosphere. Sometimes these things get together, and there is real trouble, but that won't happen this time. Regardless, there will be enough snow to cause problems all the way to Maine by Friday.

Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior Meteorologist John Kocet.

[Smogger]

Caption: ON18-WIND-1-w.jpg (walter richard weis staff photographer D!H) City of Ontario crew used a skip loaders early Thurday 01/17/08 to clear trees from Euclid Ave after dozens were toppled after a strong Santa Ana wind storm blew through the city . Album ID: 410362 Photo ID: 17486422

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Monday, Jan 21

Day

High: 55°F RealFeel®: 52°F

Mainly cloudy and cool with a shower possible

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

There are some tall trees along Euclid as I remember it...been awhile since I have been out there.....

[Old Professer]

It’s been calm to a high of 6mph out of the east right now in L.A. (since midnight)