Intense Santa Ana winds and damaging gusts to pound Southern California this weekend

Offshore winds are expected to begin ramping up on Friday, ranging from 25 to 45 mph in Los Angeles County with gusts up to 60 mph in some of the mountainous and less populated areas of Ventura County, according to the National Weather Service.

Wind gusts could reach advisory levels of 45 mph across the western parts of the south coast on Thursday, according to the weather service. By the early afternoon, winds of 40 to 50 mph were developing across the Antelope Valley and the foothills.

On Saturday, Ventura County could see wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph, and isolated gusts of 40 mph, starting in the mid-morning and tapering off later in the afternoon.

In San Diego County, winds could reach around 20 to 40 mph on Friday, with high temperatures expected in the mid-70s to mid-80s in the coastal valleys, according to the weather service.

“It’s for the most part, a run-of-the-mill Santa Ana event,” National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said. “It’s gusty but probably not going to be all that impactful.”

A high-wind warning has been issued by the weather service for the western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 corridor, including the communities of Malibu Bowl, Warm Springs, Mill Creek and Acton, from Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Northeast winds between 25 and 40 mph, with gusts up to 65 mph, are expected in the corridor.

The winds could blow down trees and power lines, causing widespread power outages, according to the weather service. Travel could also be difficult for vehicles. People have been advised to stay in the lower levels of their homes, avoid windows, watch for falling debris and tree limbs, and use caution if they want to drive.

Temperatures are expected to be warm over the weekend, ranging in the 70s to mid-80s even along the coast, the weather service said. Relative humidities are also expected to be low on Saturday.

There isn’t expected to be any big fire danger, although small grass fires could spark as a result of the wind event.

“We have enough moisture in our plants and fuels,” Wofford said. “We’re not expecting anything too big at this point. We need a couple more months of dry before we start worrying about that.”

The weather service recommends that if you’re driving, leave extra time, as winds will be gusty. The agency also recommends people tie down things to their cars, secure outdoor items and avoid creating sparks.