104-mph gusts recorded as Santa Ana winds wreak havoc across Southern California during their yearly run
The wind died down as quickly as it began, blowing a few strands of hair out of each man’s nose and down each man’s back.
Santa Ana winds wreaked havoc across Southern California before they were done raking through the region Wednesday night.
At least three people were taken to the hospital after their cars were struck by falling tree limbs, authorities said. They said three people had been struck by falling tree limbs at different locations.
The gusts hit with such force that it knocked out power to about half the region late Wednesday night, officials said. The wind then died down as quickly as it began, blowing a few strands of hair out of each man’s nose and down each man’s back.
By Thursday morning, the wind was expected to subside, giving way to sunny conditions with a high temperature of 74 degrees.
The storm caused havoc in Southern California, with many areas experiencing as high as 70 mph gusts.
“A very strong wind storm hit Southern California overnight and it was intense,” said Bill Gramlich, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
“The winds came in from the west and were fast, strong. They could have lifted trees over into the streets and had debris up to the thousands of square miles right across the valley,” Gramlich said.
He said there were no reports of fatalities and the number of people who suffered eye and skin irritations seemed relatively small.
The brunt of the storm was felt late Wednesday in Santa Ana, where some streets were swept by trees and strong winds, sending debris onto the streets. Some trees were reportedly blown about 30 feet.
In Escondido, about 200 homes lost electricity and power was knocked out on the local freeway, officials said. A woman suffered a heart attack after getting out of a car and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, authorities said.
