Hurricane Force Winds Expected Through Friday In LA Area
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Hurricane force winds out of the northeast are possible in the local mountains, starting Wednesday night, upping the danger of wildfires and making driving hazardous for truckers.
In the San Gabriel Mountains, gusts could reach about 80 mph, and parts of the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys below canyons and passes could experience potentially damaging gusts of about 65 mph, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a regional fire-weather watch from Wednesday night through Friday afternoon.
While offshore winds typically create warm conditions in the Los Angeles Basin, highs Thursday and Friday will be mostly in the 60s, according to the NWS. At times, the relative humidity will fall to 10-15 percent.
Forecasters have said the winds, which are expected to peak Thursday morning, may be strongest to hit the area in several years. In the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains, and in the Santa Clarita Valley, a high wind watch will be in effect through Friday afternoon.
Winds of about 70 mph or more are capable of uprooting trees, knocking down power lines and blowing over high-profile vehicles.
Relatively light objects, such as lawn furniture, can be turned into potentially damaging projectiles in high winds, and people are urged to secure items around patios and decks.
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