Fierce Winds Cause Chaos on SoCal Roads; Highway 118 in Moorpark Closed

Severe Santa Ana winds wreaked havoc across Southern California on Monday, leading to numerous incidents and road closures. The winds, fueled by recent rainfall, resulted in substantial turmoil, particularly in Moorpark.

Highway Closures and Emergency Responses

Shortly after 11 a.m., a large tree fell onto power lines in Moorpark. This incident prompted the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to close Highway 118 in both directions: westbound at Tierra Rejada Road and eastbound at Somis Road. The highway remained shut for several hours, only reopening around 10 p.m.

Additional Wind-Related Incidents in Orange County

Emergency crews in Orange County faced a busy morning due to the strong winds. Anaheim Fire and Rescue responded to a situation where a palm tree struck a vehicle near Disneyland, resulting in two women being trapped inside. One woman was unharmed, while the other was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Firefighters in Buena Park also managed to remove a rooftop canopy that had become entangled in power lines, highlighting the widespread impact of the winds across the region.

Wind Speeds and Weather Forecasts

The Santa Ana wind event, which began late Sunday night, peaked on Monday afternoon. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts between 35 and 50 mph in many areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Some locations, especially mountainous regions, experienced gusts ranging from 50 to 70 mph.

• Magic Mountain recorded gusts reaching 77 mph.
• A wind advisory was in effect until 8 p.m. on Monday.
• Forecasts predict continued gusts of 30 to 50 mph across Southern California through Saturday.

Expectations for New Year’s Celebrations

As the week progresses, residents should prepare for rainy conditions over New Year’s Eve and Day. Rainfall rates may approach a quarter to half an inch per hour from Wednesday night into Thursday morning.

The weather service anticipates an 80-90% chance of rain affecting the New Year’s Parade and festivities. It’s worth noting that the last time the parade faced wet conditions was in 2006.