High wind warnings are in place for Southern California, causing significant gusts in Southern California’s mountain passes and impacting holiday travelers. The warnings are in effect from the coast to inland areas, including the San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 Freeway in northern Los Angeles County. Antelope Valley is also under a wind advisory with north winds ranging from 25 to 55 mph and gusts up to 55 mph. A particularly strong gust of 93 mph was reported in the Santa Clarita area, and other areas experienced gusts of 70-87 mph.
According to NBCLA forecaster Belen De Leon, these strong winds will persist for at least the next 24 to 48 hours, leaving downed trees and hazardous travel conditions in their wake. While winds are expected to ease late Tuesday into Wednesday, allowing for calmer conditions for Thanksgiving, wind advisories and high wind warnings remain in place until early next week. The situation has led to some travel warnings and potential delays as the region prepares for the holiday.
As a result, the NWS Los Angeles has issued a high wind warning for multiple areas, including parts of inland Orange County, San Bernardino and Riverside county valleys, and Los Angeles and Ventura county, stating that winds will peak from the dawn hours to mid-morning. The persistent, powerful gusts have the potential to cause danger and significantly impact travel plans, necessitating caution and preparedness for affected areas.