Strong Winds Uproot Trees, Knock Down Power Lines Across Southland
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Powerful winds lashed Southern California on Monday at the tail end of a winter storm that also brought heavy rain and mountain snow.
Wind advisories were in place in Southern California on Monday, as strong gusts downed trees and power poles and ripped off rooftops — and in one case, solar panels — across the region.
The wind knocked out a traffic light in Hollywood, and trees were felled across the San Fernando Valley. In Burbank, a woman was rescued after being pinned down by a fallen tree. She escaped with only minor injuries.
In Garden Grove, a utility pole snapped in half due from strong gusts.
In Arleta, Robert Cajina's house was damaged when a massive tree was uprooted and landed on the roof. Cajina's mother-in-law and cousin were inside at the time, but no injuries were reported.
"I actually heard the roots being unplugged," Arleta resident Noelhyn Cunanan said. "It was just like a big crash ... [like a] big plane crash ... I could hear some glass break."
A tree also fell near Shant Barsethian's auto repair shop in the San Fernando Valley.
"Lucky no one who was walking on the sidewalk at the time that it happened. It could've a really disaster," he said.
Staying warm was tough for thousands across the South Bay after strong winds snapped power poles in Gardena and left them dangling by their wires.
Power outages affecting about 140,000 utility customers were reported across the Los Angeles and San Diego area — but service was restored to most customers early Monday.
The storm began exacting its damage on Sunday, when a motorist was killed after a tree fell on his car in San Diego County.
Wind gusts Sunday topped 65 mph in Malibu, according to the National Weather Service. The highest reading of the day was at Whitaker Peak, north of Castaic, where a gust was recorded at 115 mph.
The storm dropped more than an inch of rain in some places.
Dried out palm fronds, tree branches and other debris fell on power lines during the storm.
The 5 Freeway leading in and out of northern Los Angeles County in the Grapevine was briefly shut before dawn because of blowing snow and icy road conditions, the California Highway Patrol said.
To the north, Interstate 80 near Truckee was closed for more than two hours Sunday after at least 40 vehicles got into a pileup amid snowy conditions. No injuries were reported.
The storm also churned up high surf along west and northwest-facing beaches. The rough seas prompted authorities to briefly close the piers at Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach.
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