Very strong winds are set to hit mountains and valleys of Southern California, especially on Sunday and Monday. NBC4’s Carl Bell has the forecast for Saturday, April 06, 2013.
Winds are expected to gather intensity across much of Southern California Saturday, with the strongest gusts coming into mountains and valleys on Sunday night into Monday evening, forecasters said.
An upper-level trough coming in from the Great Basin and Arizona will push a surge of colder air into the region on Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
Wind gusts of 60 mph in northern Los Angeles County mountains prompted the California Highway Patrol to issue warnings Saturday to drivers of empty trucks, recreational vehicles and other objects prone to tipping over.
The warning came as the weather service said "damaging wind gusts" of over 60 mph were expected in the mountains of LA and Ventura counties beginning Saturday and into Monday.
The Interstate 5 corridor was expected to be especially impacted.
The strongest winds were expected for late Sunday night through Monday evening.
Power outages and downed power lines are possible, the weather service said, and visibility will be reduced in inland desert valleys because of blowing sand and dust.
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NBC4 weather forecaster Carl Bell said the event could rival the windstorm in late 2011 that caused serious damage in the San Gabriel Valley, leaving many without power for days.
"Keep your guard up," Bell said.
Gale-force winds are expected to hit the coast, creating dangerous conditions at sea and a high risk of rip currents, the weather service said.
The strong winds have created an elevated concern for fire, the weather service said.
The winds are set to continue through Monday night, and will likely also affect the Santa Clarita Valley, the San Fernando Valley and the Santa Monica Mountains.
Inland areas that could see strong gusts include the San Gorgonio Pass and the Coachella Valley, with the strongest winds Sunday afternoon into Monday morning.
City News Service contributed to this report.
