Southern California is bracing for a blast of strong winds with gusts that could reach hurricane strength, according to meteorologists.
In areas like Santa Clarita, strong wind gusts could make driving difficult and even overturn some high-profile vehicles from Wednesday night until midday on Thursday.
The National Weather Service has issued High Wind Warnings and advisories for the northern half of L.A. County and portions of Ventura, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Wind gusts could reach 50 to 70 mph, and perhaps even 80 mph, according to the NWS, especially in mountain and foothill areas and in southwest Santa Barbara County.
Even if you’re not in one of those areas, the strong winds will likely impact you, said KTLA’s Kacey Montoya.
“This is going to impact everybody watching TV right now, so just be prepared for a windy night,” she said.
Snow is also expected in the Grapevine and Tejon Pass, with as much as 2 or 3 inches likely, though those figures could be higher, the NWS said.
“Snow levels will be 4000-4500 feet, lowering to around 3000 feet by early Thursday,” the NWS said. “A winter storm warning is in effect, with 2-5 inches of snow in the mountains, including the I-5 near Tejon Pass, cold wind chills due to strong winds, and low visibility in blowing snow. Significant travel delays are likely.”