Extreme Winds Hit 6 US States
The National Weather Service has issued high wind warnings for six states across the western frontier as a violent windstorm is ripping away at states across the western U.S.
The warning has come after strong winds pummeled southern California on Wednesday and Thursday.
Several cities in southern California reported downed trees and power outages that left 300,000 California customers without power due to the overwhelming winds.
The “once-a-decade-type windstorm” caused wind gusts as strong as 97 mph in California on Wednesday. Around 100 trees went down in Pasadena alone and the storm caused the diversion and delay of 23 flights at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Wyoming are all placed on the National Weather Service warning list due to the uncharacteristically high Santa Ana winds.
Sustained winds between 20 to 40 mph will be commonplace throughout the states, but wind gusts can reach as high as 80 mph.
The National Weather Service warned that wind impacts could down power lines, damage roofing and siding on homes, sweep away holiday decorations and pick up outdoor furniture.
In the Utah cities of Farmington and Centerville, street signs have already been bent due to the impact and some schools were forced to close their doors on Thursday because of wind gusts of 100 mph.
Residences in Centerville have faced significant damage due to the storm, with siding ripped off several homes and the Utah Department of Transportation said that 10 trucks have been blown over on highways.
The strong and gusty northeast Santa Ana winds are proving to be some of the strongest winds in the region has felt in years.
Flights and travel across the region have been delayed due to the winds.
To view some of the damage that occurred in California please view below.