Heavy Winds Bring Threat of Falling Trees and Power Lines

High winds sufficiently powerful to knock down tree limbs and power lines will lash several areas of the Southland beginning today, forecasters said.

A high wind watch schedule from Tuesday night until Thursday afternoon will go into effect at 2 p.m. today in the Santa Ana 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 region Tuesday and was scheduled to remain in force through Thursday afternoon.

The NWS forecast a combination of sunny and partly cloudy skies today and highs of 64 in San Clemente; 67 in Avalon and Laguna Beach; 69 at LAX, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, and Lake Forest; 73 in 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.

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