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Mark J. Terrill / AP
Los Angeles City firefighters look over a eucalyptus tree that fell on a house and knocked down power lines, Wednesday.
Updated at 6:00 a.m. ET
Power outages and downed trees were reported in several regions of Los Angeles County Wednesday night due to strong winds, NBC LA reported.
A major change in the weather pattern is expected to bring powerful gusts of up to 85 miles per hour and possible hurricane force winds into the Los Angeles region for two days.
The National Weather Service issued warnings that the high winds and low humidy could cause wildfires.
On Wednesday night, a wind gust of 97 mph was recorded at Whitaker Peak in Los Angeles County, according to the weather service.
Los Angeles International Airport was affected with power going in and out at the airport Wednesday.
Some containers and equipment that were unsecured rolled onto runways, LAX spokesperson Nancy Castles told KCAL9.
Castles was told by the Federal Aviation Administration that the some arrival flights would be delayed for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Some flights, including three international flights, were diverted to other airports.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said about 20 diverted flights were sent to Ontario International Airport in San Bernardino County Wednesday because of severe crosswinds and two runways were closed due to strewn debris.
Marina Peninsula and beach areas of Venice suffered power outages as well, some of which have since been restored.
Several areas incurred damage from fallen trees.
A large Eucalyptus tree fell on a power line and a house in Beverly Hills, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
In addition, traffic was backed up through most of Marina del Rey along westbound Admiralty Way because of downed trees.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for Wednesday night through to late Friday afternoon over Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Watch NBCLosAngeles.com forecast video
The wind was forecasted to be so powerful, it could be “the strongest offshore wind event we have seen in the past few years,” according to an advisory by the National Weather Service.
Fears of a possible brush fire guided the decision to suspend the Metro Green Line service between the Redondo Beach and El Segundo stations, according to Metro.
“Residents in the warning area are advised to take precautions now before the winds reach their peak,” the NWS said. “Close all windows and secure all outdoor objects such as lawn furniture.”
For the latest weather conditions, click here.
The Santa Ana winds are generated during cooler months when westward flowing currents reach fierce speeds as they squeeze through mountain ranges of Southern California, lowering humidity and making vegetation susceptible to fire.
Follow NBC LA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @NBCLA// Facebook: NBCLA
Leave a Comment:
If my people who are called by my name,,,,
...will humble themselves...
... and seek my face....
They shall not perish
But if they seek not my face,,,,,
>> If my people who are called by my name ...
... don't get just a *little* more creative when naming they're children, it's going to get very, very confusing. Can I get a Jr., please? or just a wacky new spelling? How about y*wWay? Anyone? Maybe this is to get me back for the plague of locust thing, but come on! a PLAGUE of LOCUSTS? L-O-C-U-S-T-S! Tell me you wouldn't want to make one as soon as you realized you could? I'd had omniscient diety's block since the burning bush idea (and yes, that was totally epic, thank you very much) and had to take inspiration when it struck, you know what I'm sayin'?
"And than, God sayest, thou shall not use me as a cop out. Thou shallt cease to burn the fossil fuels or face my wrath."
What, did that part get left out?
Comment # 3 deleted for death trolling.
1SGFitzsWife4ID, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 5 of the Code of Honor.
Wow, rough crowd :(
Biggest issue for most of us will be if the power is cut to prevent fire caused by lines down. Locate your camp lights and flashlights.
Give me a break, all of southern California is use to this. Santa Ana winds come every late October - November. Earthquakes and Santa Ana's are normal.
yaya
Come to think about it,we haven't had a good shaker in my area this year. Must not be normal Earthquake Weather. I guess we can blame Global Warming for the extreme weather pattern.
Uh oh, that means the pressure is building up LA is going to split in half...Sorry seems everyone wants to claim doom and destruction are on the way. I had to throw one out there too.
Hope all stays well, it is those pesky fires that seem to be the biggest problem in LA.
"I guess we can blame Global Warming for the extreme weather pattern."
Didn't you get the memo? The AGW folks aren't calling it "Global Warming" anymore, because well, apparently there wasn't any for the last 10 years. They switched to calling it "Climate Change" to maintain their research funding. :)
Ysahmak, you are horribly misinformed. The Earth's average surface temperature, expressed as a linear trend, rose by 0.74 ± 0.18 °C over the period 1906–2005. The rate of warming over the last half of that period was almost double that for the period as a whole (0.13 ± 0.03 °C per decade, versus 0.07 °C ± 0.02 °C per decade). The urban heat island effect is estimated to account for about 0.002 °C of warming per decade since 1900.[25] Temperatures in the lower troposphere have increased between 0.13 and 0.22 °C (0.22 and 0.4 °F) per decade since 1979, according to satellite temperature measurements.
True, but we've never had them blow this hard before. When I first moved here 20 years ago they would blow 5-10mph, or 20-30 which wasn't so annoying. Now it's 40-50 and upwards. I get a sinus headache if I go outside.
Any statistics to prove your statement Christy, or are you just relying on your memory
as an L.A. native I have to say that the winds yesterday blew a lot harder and for a much longer duration of time than I have remembered it happening in the past so it was noticeably different this time around .... i'll be staying indoors 'til this all blows over ... pun intended :) don't need any palm fronds landing on my head.
Horrendous wildfires every year. Mudslides. Earthquakes. Hurricane force winds. Nancy Pelosi and Jerry Brown. Illegal alien population greater than native population. Massive, incurable debt. Fruits and nuts.
Sux to be y'all.
May the winds and hurricane die down before they hit Los Angeles. We must pray to God during these times. May GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
Hey there Kev,
Will god do a darn thing when you pray your heart out?
Answer: Nope.
Retrospect: Nutty religious folks always praying for something, and getting zero in return.
You are wrong..... definately
Amen Kevin
While you're praying can you get God to get rid of global warming? Or do we have to do that ourselves?
Im not wrong and Ruken, I'll never understand why non-believers feel it's necessary to mock believers. The believers are not insisting you believe as they do. They are simply expressing their belief. I know many unbelievers who are kind, moral people. It would be nice to be able to say that about the two of you.
Ruken
These winds have been around longer than the global warming issue.
Now where is the "Big One?"
Hurricane FORCE winds. We don't get hurricanes here. Learn to read
Any wind over 74 MPH is hurricane force.
There is an adage that says "troubles come in pairs." Southern Cal is getting a double dose of trouble now.
I tried to imagine LA without lights, not to mention the surrounding cities, and no power for anything else. And then have to endure the high winds and being threatened with wild fires too?
I see how you did that - 2 posts in a row.
Comment # 10 deleted for violating rule # 5 of the Code of Honor.
Don't death troll, arhillbilly. You are suspended for a day.
SO,,, you think god didn't like running off the OWS protesters?????
darn right! 100 mph winds sent by G-d to punish LaLaLand for deserting the OWS protestors. 6 more plagues to come unless they are welcomed back!
I love how all these supposed Christians are saying all these hateful things. Guess they're only Christian in name only.
I think some people are afraid to empathize, so they attack.
Ontario International Airport is in San Bernardino County.
Thank you. I lived in Ontario for 34 year and 80+ gusts were normal in Fontana. The planes would come in and all I could think of was those on that plane were in for a wild landing. To think that MSN cant even spell International correctly as well as not know that Ontario is located in SB County. Anyways, the wind was blowing here in Idaho yesterday as well but we had about a 40 degree temp difference, brrr!
My office is in the landing path of Ontario Airport & it's crazy to see the planes coming in almost sideways when the wind is howling out here. Last night was definetly a wild ride. I've been without electricty at my house since about 1am
Brian, I worked at the airport long ago and was sitting on the tarmac waiting for a customer to show up. It was during a windy day and a TWA plane came in for a landing. Just when the plane was about to touchdown, a gust of wind hit the underbelly of the plane and the tail end hit the runway sending a little show of sparks for a few feet. That whole day I couldnt stop thinking about how much worse it could have been. Needless to say, TWA isnt in business anymore or has been for awhile. I have a good friend who works off of Haven and Airport drive. I imagine the planes are putting on a good show today.
schizophrenic? this is in reply to arhillbilly. My replies don't alway end up where I send them! Hoping for the best not only for CA but for everyone/
@arhillbilly Is a title wave a bunch of books waving at you or a pile of book titles washing in from the sea? ROFL.
Arguing global warming is kinda like the old Zen story. A man was shot with a poison arrow and a crowd gathers around the victim arguing whether the arrow was from this clan or that clan, saying that each clan had it's own unique markings on the arrows. Obviously the man died because the arguments were more important than removing the arrow.
Not sure this applies to Climate Change. Maybe politics.
While you and I argue whether or not obama is going to break us....he's breaking us.
So you're saying the arrow was from the Obama clan?
Obama is part of the Blackfoot tribe.
"So you're saying the arrow was from the Obama clan?"
I think he was saying that in the case of global warming, perhaps there was no arrow.
Only idiots would say that in the face of all the evidence. Are you saying the arrow was from the idiot clan?
Dang!!!! Some people can be so cold hearted. As an Oklahoman I know how damaging those strong winds can be. Hope everything turns out OK. BTW the last I checked California is still part of the US and since we are ONE country I really dont understand people wishing ill to any other US citizen!
What could you expect, Okiegirl, doesn't matter the subject of an article, the fruit loops are going to show up, you can't stop them.
If you've ever been to LA you'd know that Southern California belongs to Mexico.
We have these winds every fall, its really no big deal.
Those high velocity gusts are enough to blow cars off the road, especially if they are traveling fast. But it's L.A.; that won't slow people down.
Stay safe folks! Wouldn't wish this on anyone, anywhere!
Just wish the reporters would proof read their work before posting. Ontario Intgernational Airport Yikes!
Maggie109, and how about "Castles was told by the Federal Aviation Administration that the some arrival flights would be delayed for about 10 to 15 minutes."? (Emphasis mine.) I nearly choked when I read that one!
Is this where the left coast gets all its hot air?
I don't know what the speed record is for a 15' mono-haul sailing vessel, but I doubt it comes close to 81 mph. It wasn't a planned record attempt, just got caught out in these high winds on the way back to Redondo Beach from Catalina. Needless to say, I returned to Catalina quite quickly!
I live in South Lake Tahoe and right now we are trying to batten down all of the equipment on the roofs of our buildings. Alot of it has blown away during the night and I just heard that half of the town is without power. Good luck to LA and the rest of California, this is supposed to go on for a couple of more days.
These winds come like clock work every year. Southern Californians are used to them and know how to cope with them. It is the Power Outages that create the problem.
I grew-up there and as children we loved the excitement of the wind, we would go in our yard and swing.
So you're saying 97 mph winds are normal?
Strong Santa Ana winds are normal, but 97 MPH doesn't happen every year...
97 mph doesn't happen every year, but its not unheard of.
That 97 mph was at the top of a mountain where such a speed is not all that unusual.
Ninety seven mph winds normal? No, usually it's just reported to the nearest 5 or 10 mph. A few years back we had 105 mph wind gusts.
I admit this is higher than usual, but growing up in Pasadena the winds were unusually stronger in the San Gabriel Valley
Tidal wave!
I don't see what all the fuss is about. I live in the midwest, 97mph winds? That's not even a tornado. We also get straight line winds worse than that very often, lets not forget the microburst too.
There are trees in California, not just wheat and corn.
I think trees aren't totally unknown in the Midwest.
@Joregon: If you think there's nothing but wheat and corn in the midwest maybe you should get out more.
The last bow front (derecho) that went through the Ozarks took out hundreds of acres of forrest. That was a scarry deal. Thankfully it was in an unpopulated area.
How come? Was Sarah Palin there yesterday?
It's all Al Gore's doing.