More fierce winds battered the Southland Friday, but the most powerful were dying down as afternoon approached.
Winds knocked down power lines and interrupted service to 74 Southern California Edison customers in Carson about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, the utility reported. Crews were working late Friday morning to restore service.
In Redondo Beach about 7:15 p.m. Thursday, a sailboat buffeted by winds and choppy waters crashed into the Redondo Beach Pier, and rescuers pulled four boaters from the water, with only minor injuries reported.
In the east Hollywood, Baldwin Hills and Walnut areas overnight, winds toppled trees onto vehicles.
While the entire area was windy, the strongest winds were occurring through and around the Interstate 5 Corridor, with gusts of between 70 and 80 miles per hour rocking that area of the an Gabriel mountains.
Weaker gusts — between 60 and 65 mph — were blowing overnight through the Santa Monica Mountains, the Santa Clarita Valley and, to the north, the coast and mountains of Santa Barbara County, according to the weather service. In most coastal and valley areas of L.A. County, the wind was gusting at between 40 and 50 mph.
“Winds this strong may down trees and power lines, causing property damage or power outages,” warned an NWS statement, adding that crosswinds can be a serious impediment for drivers, especially in high-profile vehicles or vehicles towing trailers.
A high wind warning indicating that the wind is blowing or gusting at 58 mph or more will be in effect until 9 a.m. in the San Gabriel Mountains in both Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
In the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, a high wind warning was downgraded to a wind advisory — it indicates top winds of 35 mph — and set to expire at 9 a.m.
In the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, a high wind warning expired at 3 a.m. and was replaced with a wind advisory scheduled to expire at 9 a.m.
A wind advisory denoting an expectation of 35 mph winds or gusts expired at 9 a.m. — an hour later than originally scheduled — in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys, on Santa Catalina Island, in L.A. County beach cities, in metropolitan Los Angeles, the Downtown area and the Hollywood Hills.
Sunny skies were forecast in L.A. County Friday, along with highs of 57 degrees Fahrenheit on Mount Wilson; 6 in Avalon; 68 in Saugus, Palmdale, Lancaster and at LAX; 72 in Long Beach; 73 in Downtown L.A.; 74 in Burbank and San Gabriel; and 75 in Pasadena and Woodland Hills.
Sunny skies were also expected in Orange County, along with highs of 63 in Laguna Beach and San Clemente; 65 in Newport Beach; 68 in Mission Viejo; 69 in Irvine; 70 in Anaheim; 71 in Fullerton; and 72 in Yorba Linda.
Temperatures will rise Saturday, reaching 83 in Woodland Hills and 78 in Yorba Linda.
—City News Service