Hurricane-Force Gusts Down Power Lines

Hurricane force gusts downed power lines and caused sporadic power outages Thursday in Orange County, but no other damage was reported, local authorities said.

Power was lost to about 3,600 Southern California Edison customers in Newport Beach, Westminster, Costa Mesa and Santa Ana, said Kevin Kelley, spokesman for Southern California Edison. It was restored, however, by midafternoon.

And there were no other incidents related to windy conditions, said Orange County Fire Authority dispatcher Tim Gray.

The winds are a result of a high pressure system over Nevada and Utah that is squeezing into coastal area canyons and passes.

“It’s like holding your finger over a garden hose,” said meteorologist John Sherwin. “That’s basically what happens when winds come through canyons and passes.”

The breeziest areas included Santa Ana and Fremont canyons north of the city of Santa Ana, where 34-mph northeast winds gusted up to 85 mph. The winds are expected to taper off by this afternoon and be accompanied by warmer temperatures, said Ivory Small, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

Lifeguards at local beaches were hardly fazed by the winds. By noon, the beaches were postcard perfect, with calm breezes ranging from 2 to 6 mph.

“The offshore winds are decreasing [the surf] energy,” said Laguna Beach lifeguard Mark Klosterman. “But it’s a beautiful, sunny afternoon.”

In Ontario, two tractor-trailer rigs were blown over freeway onramps, blocking roads, causing guard rail damage and forcing the California Highway Patrol to close the roads until the winds calmed. The driver climbed unscathed out of one rig; a paramedic was called for the second, but officials could not say whether he suffered any injuries.

For some, the clear day came with a price tag: sneezing, congestion and itchy, watery eyes. Dry, windy conditions meant that pollen, mold spores and grass terrorized allergy sufferers.

“Do simple things like drink eight glasses of water a day, use a saltwater nasal [spray],” said Dr. Charles Groncy, an allergist at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. “The nasal tissues are much more sensitive.”

For 27-year-old engineer Melissa Martinez, it’s obvious when the winds are gusting.

“The blinds keep rocking against the windows all day,” she said of her 12-story office building in Santa Ana. “It doesn’t bother me, but there are some people in the office that get a little seasick.”