National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists have issued a high wind advisory for several areas in Southern California, with a map showing that power outages from the storm could affect Hanford south to the U.S. border.
Strong winds are expected to whip through California through Friday night as a storm system moves into the area. NWS senior meteorologist Victor Proton previously told Newsweek that the winds are associated with the same system that is expected to arrive in the Central U.S. on Saturday—the second in a two-pronged, multiday event—and bring severe thunderstorms and tornado threat with it.
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Winds were expected to blow between 20 and 30 miles per hour, with stronger gusts in most regions. The strongest winds were forecast for San Diego, particularly in the San Bernardino Mountains and the Apple and Lucerne valleys.
"West winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 65 mph. The strongest winds are expected along the desert slopes of the mountains," the NWS warning said.
Newsweek reached out to the NWS office in San Diego by phone for comment.
The warning advised motorists to exercise "extra caution" when driving, as the strong winds could blow their vehicles off course, especially high-profile vehicles.
As of Friday morning, hardly any customers were without power in Southern California. The worst of the wind is expected to affect the region Friday afternoon and Friday evening.
"Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible," the NWS office in Los Angeles warned in the wind advisory. "Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Visibilities may be reduced to less than a mile in blowing sand and dust at times."
In addition to power outages, meteorologists warned of damage to trees and unsecured objects.
"Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down," the San Diego office warned.
Earlier this week, AccuWeather meteorologists issued a report warning that millions of people will be at risk from severe—and possibly fatal—thunderstorms moving through the Central U.S. through Saturday. The incoming storm is touted as "one of the most widespread severe weather events so far in 2024," with meteorologists warning that it "will unleash tornadoes, hard-hitting hail and damaging winds across a dozen states."
The first storm arrived Thursday, closely followed by the second system. The severe weather is expected to last through the weekend and will bring a "significant risk to lives and property" with it, according to the report.
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