From City News Service

Strong winds will buffet much of the Southland today, particularly mountain regions, and last through Christmas afternoon, raising fears of severed tree limbs and downed power lines, National Weather Service forecasters said.

A wind advisory will be in effect until 3 this afternoon in the San Fernando, San Gabriel and Santa Clarita valleys and the Los Angeles coastal zone, which includes beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles, downtown L.A. and the Hollywood Hills. In Orange County, a wind advisory will be in force until 6 p.m. today.

NWS forecasters said the L.A. coastal zone would experience winds of between 15 and 25 miles per hour gusting to 40 mph while valley winds would blow at speeds of around 20-40 mph, gusting to 50 mph, and even 60 mph in the Santa Clarita valleys.

In both the San Gabriel and Santa Monica mountains, a wind advisory will be in force until 3 p.m. today, followed by a more serious high wind watch, which will be in effect from Wednesday night through Thursday afternoon. The high wind watch, heralding winds of 58 mph or greater, will also include the Santa Clarita valley.