Strong winds are headed for Los Angeles before a warm weekend

Powerful winds will slam into Los Angeles late this week following a rain-filled weekend, the National Weather Service said.

Winds could top off at 65 mph in the mountains and 55 mph in the desert on Thursday as a low pressure system drops into Nevada, forecasters said, increasing winds and cooling temperatures.

“It will be very gusty in many locations, especially the mountains and deserts,” said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the weather service in Oxnard.

On the coast, gusts could reach 20 mph in the morning and 30 mph by the afternoon when the strongest winds hit. Temperatures will hover between the mid-60s and the low 70s, Sweet said.

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“If winds get as high as 60 mph, that’s when it starts doing a little damage,” Sweet said. “Certainly when you get strong winds like that in the desert, you have to worry about blowing dust lowering visibility to near zero.”

Blustery winds could increase by Thursday night in the mountains, forecasters said, reaching speeds of up to 65 mph. In the Antelope Valley, gusts could reach 60 mph, kicking up sand and dust.

“It’s actually quite strong,” Sweet said. “That’s the point when you start to worry about not only the blowing sand and dust, but also the power outages.”

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The strong gusts will give way to light winds and highs in the mid-70s by Friday, the weather service said.

A warming trend should hit Los Angeles County by the weekend, forecasters said, with temperatures in the 80s.

sarah.parvini@latimes.com

For more local and breaking news, follow me on Twitter: @sarahparvini

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