Power Restored After High Winds Blow Across Southern California

Friday, December 28th 2007, 5:27 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Power has been restored to all but several hundred Southern California residents who lost electricity when strong winds knocked down power lines and blew blinding dust across desert roadways.

About 400 customers of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power were without electricity late Thursday, agency spokeswoman Carol Tucker said. She said crews had restored power to more than 20,000 customers since Wednesday night.

Winds blew at 20-35 mph in many areas Thursday morning, with gusts possibly as high as 65 mph in deserts, mountains and canyons. The winds subsided by the afternoon.

High winds on Christmas Day blew down power lines and transformers, and utility crews were placed on standby in anticipation for more strong gusts.

Unlike last month's hot, dry Santa Ana winds, which helped spread several forest fires, the latest gusts were coming from the north and were cold and moist, National Weather Service meteorologist Jamie Meier said.