Saturday, December 24, 2011

Calif. winds dying but morning gusts possible

Firefighters stand by a large pine tree that fell across a city street in Glendale Calif., caused by high winds on Thursday Dec. 22, 2011. Gusty winds raked California toppling a tractor-trailer truck and hurling 64-mph gusts through the mountains. However, no major damage was immediately reported, and forecasters said the gusts wouldn't match the hurricane-force blasts that caused millions of dollars in damage to Southern California last month. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Firefighters stand by a large pine tree that fell across a city street in Glendale Calif., caused by high winds on Thursday Dec. 22, 2011. Gusty winds raked California toppling a tractor-trailer truck and hurling 64-mph gusts through the mountains. However, no major damage was immediately reported, and forecasters said the gusts wouldn't match the hurricane-force blasts that caused millions of dollars in damage to Southern California last month. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Caltrans workers Ray Riestra, from left, Art Amaya and Tony Rodriguez, fight the heavy winds along the westbound 210 freeway transition to the southbound I-15 freeway in Fontana, Calif. after gusty winds blew over a semi truck on Thursday, December 22, 2011. (AP Photo/The Press-Enterprise, Stan Lim) NO SALES; MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? California winds that overturned trucks, toppled trees and fanned fires were dying down Friday and forecasters predicted calmer weather for the Christmas weekend.

The morning was breezy in some areas and calm in others. High wind warnings and advisories for gusts of 65 mph in mountains, valleys and coastal areas were set to expire by early afternoon.

Freeze warnings remained in effect for much of Central California on Friday and Saturday mornings because of low overnight temperatures.

Winds gusting to 70 mph or more on Thursday knocked down power lines, trees and big-rig trucks, although it was nothing close to the widespread damage that Southern California suffered during a hurricane-force windstorm on Nov. 30.

High winds did fan a small rural brushfire in Ventura County. The 45-acre blaze Thursday near Santa Paula burned some avocado trees but no homes were threatened and it was 95 percent contained early Friday, county fire Capt. Ron Oatman said.

One firefighter received a minor leg injury fighting the blaze, and crews Friday were busy snuffing out every last spark because of the continuing concern about wind gusts.

"Until it's completely mopped up, those embers can still blow," Oatman said. "We're going to treat it like it's mid-summer."

In Northern California on Thursday, winds pushed two unusual winter wildfires in the Sierra Nevada and a blaze that burned four buildings near San Francisco's historic Alamo Square, including an apartment building. The fire displaced dozens of people and caused several minor injuries.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2011-12-23-California%20Winds/id-5cf364fd08a1448186613f86b6920d2a

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