Gusty Winds Bring Down Trees, Power Lines
VALLEY VILLAGE(CBSLA.com) — Gusty winds have taken out power lines and trees throughout Southern California, including toppling one tree onto a car as it drove on Riverside Drive in Valley Village.
A high wind warning is in effect for much of the Southland Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The warning has been issued for most of the region including Agoura Hills, Burbank, Glendale, downtown, and the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys.
Gusts are expected to reach 80 mph in northern Los Angeles County with the event peaking around 3 p.m., officials said.
Other areas around Los Angeles can expect gusts up to 40 mph.
Leroy Merino says he was driving west down Riverside Drive at Agnes when a tree fell onto his car at about 4:05 p.m.
"I'm still a little bit shaken up, but I'm just glad I'm safe," Merino said. Merino was not injured.
The strong winds took out power to nearly 4,200 Southern California Edison customers in the Rosemead area, along with 2,600 in Monterey Park and another 1,400 in Altadena. Across its entire service area, Edison reported 9,630 customers without power as of 3 p.m.
It was also reported shortly after 10:30 p.m. that close to 7,000 Department of Water and Power customers are without electricity. The majority of homes without power are reported to be in the Mid-Wilshire and Koreatown areas, according to the department. At one point, up to 13,000 DWP customers were without power on Monday due to downed power lines.
The high winds have also kicked up dust in the high desert areas. In Palmdale, the California Highway Patrol shut down the 14 Freeway because of a dust storm that caused zero visibility in some areas.
The high wind will remain in effect until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The NWS has also issued a high surf advisory for Monday with waves ranging from 5 to 11 feet.
