High wind warnings went into effect Wednesday morning for parts of Los Angeles County with strong gusts in the forecast for the rest of the week.
The high wind warnings will be in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday in the Antelope Valley, San Gabriel Mountains and the 5 Freeway corridor north of Los Angeles. Winds of 25 to 40 mph are possible for most areas with gusts reaching 65 mph.
In the Santa Gabriel Mountains and the 14 Freeway corridor in northern LA County, a separate high wind warning will take effect at 6 a.m. Thursday and continue through 1 p.m. Saturday. Those areas could see gusts as high as 70 mph.
Northwest to northerly winds will then transition to northeast by Friday morning, resulting in a Santa Ana wind event. Powerful gusts will heighten the threat of downed trees — soil remains soaked after recent storms in Southern California — and power outages.
Light snow is possible in the Tejon Pass, something for drivers on the 5 Freeway north of Los Angeles to consider.
A less severe wind advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Saturday for the Santa Clarita Valley, Malibu Coast, Calabasas, Agoura Hills, the eastern Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area and the western San Fernando Valleys. Those areas could see winds of 20 to 30 mph, gusting up to 50 mph.
Los Angeles County beaches, the Palos Verdes Hills, eastern San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and the inland coastal area including downtown Los Angeles will be under a wind advisory from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, with gusts up to 40 mph possible.
Moderate Santa Ana winds are in the weekend forecast.