High Winds Cause Damage in Southland

High winds wreaked havoc across Southern California on Wednesday, knocking down power lines, impairing motorists’ vision, and hurtling trees into at least three cars and two houses, authorities said.

No serious injuries were reported.

Winds blowing generally from 30 to 40 mph knocked down power lines from the San Fernando Valley to San Pedro, leaving more than 8,000 customers temporarily without power, said Darlene Battle of the Department of Water and Power.

About 12:50 p.m., a 50-foot tree landed on a van at 2nd and Alameda streets in downtown Los Angeles, said Bob Collis of the city Fire Department. About half an hour later, a tree landed on a United Parcel Service truck in the 13400 block of Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Collis said.

Just before 3 p.m., a tree fell on a car in the 900 block of North Poinsettia Place in Hollywood, briefly trapping the driver, he said. Less than two hours later, city firefighters responded to a tree falling on a house in the 2300 block of South Cloverdale Avenue in Mid-City, Collis said. Later in the evening, a tree slammed into a house in the 9500 block of Grape Street in Watts.

In Long Beach, high winds about 6 p.m. forced a 16-foot boat into the breakwater, causing it to capsize, Coast Guard Petty Officer William Davidson said. Three men were rescued by Long Beach lifeguards, he said.

Stretches of Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County were closed after two seven-car pileups caused by blowing dust, California Highway Patrol Officer Matt Hunt said.

Times staff writer Zanto Peabody and the Associated Press contributed to this report.