US News
Hurricane-strength winds hit southern California
Dec 2, 2011, 5:08 GMT
Los Angeles - Strong winds in southern California have caused widespread damage, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power, news reports said.
Gusts of up to 220 kilometres per hour tore up trees, damaged buildings and cut power to at least 340,000 homes and businesses in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, CNN reported late Thursday.
Los Angeles International Airport suffered partial power outages, and many flights were delayed or cancelled, the report said.
The strength of the winds measured in the mountains outside Los Angeles was equivalent to a category 4 hurricane, the National Weather Service said. Category 5 is the highest on the scale.
The weather phenomenon, known locally as the Santa Ana winds, consists of strong, dry, hot winds blowing from the arid areas of the western United States across California and to sea.
They are common in the late autumn and winter and frequently cause damage, carry dust and smoke, and fan wildfires.
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