Blowing sand on Highway 111 near Palm Springs delays drivers as strong winds hit SoCal
Many parts of Southern California remain under a high wind warning.
BEAUMONT, Calif. (KABC) -- Drivers, hikers and visitors felt the intensity of strong winds Monday as parts of Southern California remain under a high wind warning.
High winds ripped through the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, making it a tough drive on I-10.
Blowing sand made it hard for drivers on Highway 111 heading into Palm Springs. Portions of the road that were passable showed low visibility.
Meanwhile, truck drivers with empty loads played it safe and stayed off the roads.
The high wind warning also covers the San Bernardino mountains, which saw mostly snow on Monday morning. Several vehicles got stuck on Daley Canyon Road near Highway 18, causing major traffic back-up.
The powerful winds took down a massive pine tree in Sherman Oaks but another tree saved the brunt of the fall that could've destroyed an apartment complex on Sunnyslope Avenue.
The building was red-tagged until the tree is fully removed and the full structural integrity of the complex is assessed. Thirteen people were temporarily forced to move out.
In Highland Park and Eagle Rock, more than 3,000 people were left in the dark for hours after losing power Monday afternoon. The power outage forced the businesses to close.
Residents like Elisa Kreisinger relied on candles Monday night and a warm coat.
"It's really cold, no heat, no stove, obviously no electricity, eating whatever I have in the fridge that has thawed out from the freezer," she said.
Her power ultimately came back on at around 10 p.m., but many others reminded in the dark.
Wind advisories are in effect for most coastal and valley areas into Monday night, with gusts between 35 and 55 mph. There is also a high probability of mountain wave activity on Monday and Monday night in L.A. County mountains and the Antelope Valley.
A mountain wave can create substantial damage and may cause downed trees, power outages and blowing dust, which could limit visibility while driving and traveling.
City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.
