Basin Is Battered by Strong, Hot Winds

Strong, hot winds battered much of the Los Angeles Basin Wednesday night, blacking out nearly 12,000 homes in widely scattered areas, creating problems for motorists and pedestrians but causing no significant increases in accidents or fires, authorities said.

The humidity was down to 9% at 11 p.m., and temperatures were still in the 70s. The day’s high of 86 was recorded at 5:30 p.m.

Because of the hot, dry northwest winds, the temperature at 11 p.m. was 16 degrees warmer at Los Angeles International Airport on the ocean, than inland at Long Beach Airport.

Winds of 45 m.p.h. were clocked at Van Nuys, while in other areas, readings of 25 to 35 m.p.h. were reported. Gale force winds were recorded at Marina del Rey’s breakwater.

Police in West Los Angeles closed off Wilshire Boulevard early today between Centinela Avenue and Bundy Drive because several large pieces of sheet metal from a 22-story building under construction had been ripped off by the wind and had fallen to the street. Police said there was a danger of more debris being blown off the framework.

In addition, a large crane above the building was being rocked from side to side by the winds, causing fire and police officials to order a motel near the crane site evacuated.

Police Sgt. Lee Bradford said the five-block stretch of Wilshire might have to remain closed this morning, “unless we can locate some one to secure the building or the wind dies down.”

Extra crews were called in by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Southern California Edison Co. to repair power lines damaged by trees and high winds.

About 8,500 DWP customers from Sunland to Chatsworth were without power, and another 500 were blacked out in other city areas, a spokeswoman said. Edison spokesman Dave Barron said nearly 3,000 of the utility’s customers were blacked out, principally in the San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys.

At sea, two boats were disabled by the high winds, the U.S. Coast Guard reported. A 30-foot power boat was temporarily swamped near San Clemente Island but was escorted safely to a harbor by a U.S. Navy vessel, after the boat got under way. A Los Angeles County Harbor Patrol boat rescued a sloop, taking it under tow just before it was swept onto the rocks at the Marina del Rey Harbor entrance.

Sheriff’s Deputy Roland Choi at the marina station said gale warnings were issued after gusts of 62 m.p.h. were recorded at the breakwater.

Winds of the same type and temperatures in the 70s were forecast for today by the National Weather Service.