Heat, Gusty Winds Rip Through Southland: See Top Wind Speeds

LOS ANGELES, CA — Powerful gusts and a dry heat spell hit the Southland Wednesday. The fierce wind event threatened power lines and made driving difficult in some areas difficult, according to the National Weather Service.

The strongest gusts of the morning were recorded in Ventura County, near Crimea Street Fire Road at 76 mph. Los Angeles County's Warm Springs came in second at 73 mph.

Wind advisories were in place until 3 p.m. for along the L.A. County Coast, including downtown L.A.; the San Gabriel Valley; the San Fernando Valley; the Santa Clarita Valley; the L.A. County Mountains; and the Santa Monica Mountains.

Wind advisories were also in place until noon for inland Orange County and until 3 p.m. in Riverside County.

"The strongest winds will be in the L.A. mountains (including the Santa Monicas), Santa Clarita Valley and in the higher hills of L.A. and Ventura Counties, where gusts up to 55 mph are possible," the weather officials said.

Although the combination of dry air, heat and relentless winds did raise fire weather conditions, weather officials said due to fuel moistures remaining above critical levels, no Fire Weather Watches or Red Flag Warnings were in effect or anticipated.

Mariners were advised to watch out for rough seas along the Ventura County coast to the Channel Islands. Weather officials issued a small craft advisory until 3 p.m.

Check out the peak winds in the past 6 hours, Crimea St Fire Rd in Ventura Co. gusted to 76 mph and Warm Springs in the L.A. county mtns gusted to 73 mph this morning. Be safe out there! #socal #santaanawinds #venturawind #santaclaritawindhttps://t.co/rSloYHXeCh. pic.twitter.com/A2wV20EY17
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) March 31, 2021

See the top 10 wind speeds in the Southland Wednesday:

1. Crimea Street Fire Road: 76 mph | recorded at 11 a.m. (Ventura County)
2. Warm Springs RAWS: 73 mph | recorded 8:50 a.m. (Los Angeles County)
3. Magic Mountain Truck Trail: 70 mph | recorded at 8 a.m. (Los Angeles County)
4. Still Hill: 57 mph | recorded at 8:20 a.m. (San Diego County)
5. Highland Springs: 57 mph | recorded at 9:16 a.m. (Riverside County)
6. Devil Canyon: 56 mph | recorded at 9 a.m. (Riverside County)
7. Fremont Canyon: 55 mph | recorded at 8:51 a.m. (Orange County)
8. Saugus: 55 mph | recorded at 10:57 a.m. (Santa Clarita Valley)
9. Chilao RAWS: 53 mph | recorded at 6:53 a.m. (Los Angeles County)
10. Banning: 50 mph | recorded at 8 a.m. (Riverside County)

The City News Service contributed to this report.