A cold storm from the Great Basin made its way into Southern California early Thursday, bringing strong Santa Ana winds that were already topping 70 and 80 mph in some areas.
Two locations in the San Gabriel Mountains and foothills reached 80 mph early Thursday: the Magic Mountain Truck Trail and near the end of Haven Avenue north of Rancho Cucamonga, where recent wind gusts reached 82 mph, according to Alex Tardy, National Weather Service. Meteorologist in San Diego.
North of Interstate 118 in the northern San Fernando Valley, winds reached 74 mph in Browns Canyon early Thursday, and east of Cajon Pass near the Cloudland Truck Trail gusts reached 77 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Winds are expected to peak around 11 a.m. Thursday, Tardy said.
High wind warnings remain in effect for Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, where officials warned of winds of 25 to 65 mph, with gusts up to 75 mph.
“Strong winds could bring down trees and power lines, causing property damage or power outages,” the warnings said. “Crosswinds can make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles and vehicles towing trailers.”
Some of the strongest gusts — up to 90 mph — are expected below and along the slopes of Cajon Pass and in the coastal foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains in Orange County, weather officials said.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District also issued a windblown dust advisory for Riverside and San Bernardino counties, especially in the Coachella Valley and east San Bernardino.
