Wind To Continue Battering SoCal As Santa Ana Event Picks Up

Gusty winds began battering a large swath of Southern California on Thursday, with wind gusts of up to 60 mph creating hazardous conditions on roadways and raising concerns about downed trees and power lines. Windy conditions are expected to continue through the weekend.

The windy conditions began late Wednesday and picked up Thursday. The winds will shift on Thursday evening, when a "moderate to strong" Santa Ana wind event will develop, according to the National Weather Service.

Wind gusts peaked at 60 mph on Wednesday and Thursday, with the strongest winds in the mountain areas.

The high winds were possibly a factor in a big rig overturning on the 5 Freeway near Pyramid Lake, prompting a 60-mile detour from the Grapevine area through the Antelope Valley.

As the Santa Ana wind event kicks in Thursday night, forecasters said winds of 25 to 40 mph are possible, with gusts of up to 65 mph likely.

"We're now transitioning from a north wind event to a Santa Ana and that process will be complete by Friday morning with strong northeast winds continuing through at least midday Sunday, strongest in the overnight and morning periods," the NWS wrote.

High wind warnings are in effect for various timeframes between Thursday afternoon and Sunday afternoon.

In the San Gabriel Mountains and Antelope Valley, where the warning expires at 1 p.m. Saturdays, gusts of up to 70 mph are possible, forecasters said

A less severe wind advisory will be in effect until 1 p.m. Saturday for the Santa Clarita Valley, Malibu Coast, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, the eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area and the western San Fernando Valleys. Those areas could see winds of 20 to 30 mph, gusting up to 50 mph.

Los Angeles County beaches, the Palos Verdes Hills, eastern San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and the inland coastal area, including downtown Los Angeles, will be under a wind advisory until 8 p.m. Thursday, with gusts up to 40 mph possible.

An advisory is in effect until 1 p.m. Sunday in the San Diego County valleys and mountains and Inland Empire, where gusts of up to 60 mph are possible.

An advisory for inland Orange County expires at 1 p.m. Saturday. Gusts of up to 45 mph are expected.

Authorities urged caution for those driving, particularly those traveling through mountain passes.

"Additionally, due to the recent rains the saturated soil may make trees more vulnerable to uprooting," the NWS wrote.

Despite the presence of Santa Ana winds, forecasters say cool weather is expected across the region.

"Despite the shift to Santa Anas temperatures will remain on the cool side due to all the cold air aloft that the inside slider brought to the area," the NWS wrote.

Frost will be possible in wild-sheltered valley locations overnight into Friday, particularly in the Inland Empire south of the 10 Freeway and east of the 215 Freeway, and east of the 15 Freeway in San Diego County.

Other areas where very cold temperatures are possible include Ojai, the Antelope Valley and the Central Coast.

High temperatures will warm slightly across the region each day, but are not expected to exceed 70 degrees until early next week, when a warming trend will take hold.

City News Service contributed to this report.