Santa Ana winds hit Southern California: Toppled trees, beach rescues

As fierce winds blew through Southern California, spurring red-flag fire warnings, temperatures dipped low enough in some areas to prompt a hard-freeze warning.

Santa Ana winds toppled trees overnight and were cited Sunday in ocean rescues.

The winds are expected to continue much of Monday, raking over dry landscapes and keeping a red-flag warning for fire in effect until 8 p.m. The hard-freeze warning in the Antelope Valley -- where temperatures fell to 30 degrees -- will remain in effect through about 9 a.m. Monday. Overnight, there’s a chance of another hard freeze, with temperatures at or below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

The winds have wreaked havoc, uprooting trees in Canoga Park and Westwood that crashed down on parked cars.

The gusts reached up to 65 mph Sunday at Camp Nine in the mountains above Sylmar, said meteorologist Todd Hall of the National Weather Service.

Winds were blamed in two ocean rescues on Sunday. In Ventura County, firefighters rescued a kayaker who was blown 600 yards offshore, according to the National Weather Service.

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued two boaters after their vessel was partially submerged near Port Hueneme.

They showed signs of hypothermia, so they were taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Temperatures are expected to rise Monday and Tuesday, with highs reaching to the low 80s, then cool toward the end of the week.

For breaking news throughout California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA. She can be reached at veronica.rocha@latimes.com