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The National Weather Service is warning of a "strong Santa Ana event" starting tonight across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, lasting into Thursday afternoon. I love how they explain the mechanism:
Surface high pressure building into the Great Basin will tighten the surface pressure gradients across southwest California.
After the jump: advice for a "high wind warning" like the one just called by the NWS.
* WINDS: NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 25 TO 40 MPH WITH POTENTIALLY DAMAGING GUSTS TO 60 MPH. THE WINDS WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE WEAKENING SOME.* IMPACTS: TRAVEL THROUGH INTERSTATE 5 AND HIGHWAY 14 WILL BE DIFFICULT. OVERNIGHT THE WINDS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING DOWNED POWER LINES AND UPROOTED TREES...AS WELL AS LIFTING UNSECURED OBJECTS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS THAT WINDS ARE IN EXCESS OF 40 MPH WITH POSSIBLE GUSTS GREATER THAN 60 MPH. BE ALERT FOR FLYING DEBRIS. IF ON THE ROAD...KEEP EYES OPEN FOR FALLEN TREES AND DOWNED POWER LINES. SECURE ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS AND STAY INDOORS IF POSSIBLE.