The gusting Santa Ana winds claimed a victim in Burbank this morning. Strong winds knocked down a sweet gum tree on Oak Street near Beachwood Drive shortly after 8 a.m. Only minutes before, students swarmed through the intersection to get to nearby David Starr Jordan Middle School on Mariposa Street.
An Oak Street resident says she heard “a crack and then a bang!”
The tree toppled across Oak Street, striking a parked white Saturn. Damage appeared to be minor.
Also, the sweet gum tree took down a utility line. A Burbank Water and Power crew rolled to the scene to handle the repair.
Later, a team from Burbank Forestry Services took care of cutting up the tree and removing it from the intersection.
There’s a high wind warning in the San Fernando Valley. Weather watchers say those powerful Santa Ana winds will be howling through Burbank and many other parts of the Southland well into Thursday. Gusts of 20-38 MPH are in the forecast for the Media City. The winds could gust up to 60-80 MPH in other areas of SoCal.
Los Angeles and Ventura Counties are under a Red Flag Warning for those Santa Ana winds and dry humidity, which increase the fire danger.