Tree Blocks Street in Pasadena as ‘Moderate to Strong’ Santa Ana Winds Batter City

A tree was blown down and block the road in the 1700 block of Locust Street near Allen Avenue in Pasadena on Thursday at about 8 a.m.

The Pasadena Fire Department reported on social media the Public Works Department responded to the fallen tree.

The estimated time for the removal of the tree and the reopening of the streets is currently unknown.

Residents are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes until further notice. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

City spokesperson Lisa Derderian said the City is aware of “several tree limbs and trees down.”

She said there has not been major damage reported at this point but a few roads have been blocked “on streets that don’t typically have much traffic.”

Gusty Santa Ana winds battered many parts of the Southland Thursday, felling trees in some areas and prompting warnings of hazardous driving conditions and possible damage to power lines that could cause outages.

A wind advisory will be in effect until 4 p.m. for the San Gabriel Valley, with winds anticipated at 20 to 30 mph, with isolated gusts potentially reaching 55 mph in foothill areas.

The winds picked up dramatically in many areas overnight.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries.

“Given the amount of rain that has fallen the last couple months there is certainly a higher than usual risk of falling trees with these wind speeds,” NWS forecasters warned. “The good news is that the strong offshore flow pattern is only expected Thursday with much lighter winds Friday as gradients weaken. Still some gusty winds in the mountains possible Friday morning but those should be tapering down through the day.”

The unsettled weather is being accompanied by particularly cold air, meaning the Southland won’t be seeing the warm temperatures that typically come with a Santa Ana wind event. Forecasters noted that conditions will remain “quite chilly” in the mountains and the Antelope Valley.

Temperatures are expected to begin warming later in the weekend, with highs reaching the upper 70s and low 80s by Monday and Tuesday, forecasters said.