Wind Storm Knocks Out Power for Hundreds in Weho

Emergency and utility crews were kept busy as a cold, windy Pacific storm swept across Southern California Friday.

About noon, electricity service to about 500 Southern California Edison customers in West Hollywood was knocked out, said Danny Chung of the utility. Crews worked to restore service.

The storm rolled through Santa Barbara and Ventura counties early Friday before reaching Los Angeles County, according to the National Weather Service.

"Rain and snow will likely be heavy at times, especially late this morning through the afternoon hours," according to an NWS advisory. "Steady rain and snow will turn to showers tonight."

The storm is expected to produce thunderstorms with small hail in Los Angeles County, as it has been doing to the north, said NWS meteorologist Kurt Kaplan.

He said the storm will generate between three-quarters and an inch of rain in coastal and valley areas and between one and three inches in the mountains before dry weather returns Saturday.

South-to-southwest winds of between 25 and 35 miles per hour will howl across mountain areas later today, gusting to 55 mph, NWS forecasters said. Then, the wind is expected to start blowing from the northwest, gusting to 45 mph.

"The gusty winds will create blowing and drifting snow, which will reduce visibility to near zero at times in the mountains," according to an NWS advisory. "Driving conditions may become treacherous."

Temperature highs largely will be in the high 50s Friday, climbing to the low 60s Saturday.

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