Well, Blow Me Down! Santa Ana Winds Return for an Encore

Santa Ana winds gusting about as strong as those that battered Orange County and other parts of Southern California early Wednesday were expected to torment the region again through tonight.

Forecasters predicted that winds would blow 40 to 50 m.p.h., with gusts up to 70 m.p.h. in mountains and passes.

“It will be pretty wicked out there, I’m afraid,” said Dan Bowman, a meteorologist for WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times. “It could be just as strong in some areas as the other day.”

The Santa Ana winds that raked the county Wednesday gusted at up to 90 m.p.h. The windstorm ripped power lines, causing widespread electrical outages and damaged many county homes and businesses.

By late Thursday afternoon, gusts were reaching 45 m.p.h. in Los Angeles County’s Antelope Valley area. But Orange County did not see signs that early of the returning Santa Anas. As late as 9 p.m. Thursday, the Sheriff’s Department had no reports of high winds or damage.

Lt. Tom Conner said the Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter did not go for its normal nighttime patrol Thursday because of the predicted winds.

“It’s on standby, on the ground at John Wayne Airport,” he said. “But we haven’t had any reports so far (of Santa Anas).”

The new winds began to arrive in the Los Angeles area just as many Southland residents finished sweeping up debris scattered by the previous gusts, which battered homes, felled trees, toppled trucks and planes and resulted in at least one death.

The new winds couldn’t have come at a worse time for Southern California Edison Co. power crews, who have been working without sleep in some areas since 4 a.m. Wednesday.

Don Meyer, area manager for SCEC’s Monrovia district, said 270 Edison employees from cities not affected by the winds have been called in to supplement his work force of 40.

The crews were still trying Thursday afternoon to restore service to 350 customers who have been without power since early Wednesday.

“If the severity of this storm is greater than Wednesday’s, we’re going to have to ask for more outside crews to give these guys a break,” Meyer said.

“They seem to have an endless amount of energy during these times. They haven’t slept for two days and many of them have taken meals only after 8 to 12 hours of work.”

Bowman said temperatures should reach the mid-60s today, and the sky should remain clear--so “you can watch your lawn furniture visit the neighbor’s house.”

The winds are expected to die down late tonight, with mild breezes expected for the weekend.

Temperatures Saturday should reach the low 70s and on Sunday could climb to the upper 70s through much of the Southland.