By james art 
Wind warnings are in effect for parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties through Monday.Photo byAlex SeinetonUnplash
Strong winds from Santa Ana are sweeping through Southern California, prompting officials to consider cutting power to more than 170,000 customers Monday morning. The gusty conditions have sparked serious wildfire fears across the region.
Wind warnings are in effect for parts of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties until Monday afternoon.
The National Weather Service is warning of “strong and locally damaging” winds expected to continue through Monday, with another round for Wednesday and Thursday. Wind gusts could reach 80 mph in some mountainous areas and up to 55 mph in coastal and valley locations.
Drivers should be alert for downed trees and power lines, and high-profile vehicles are urged to use caution as strong crosswinds are expected.
Southern California Edison (SCE) is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to implement power outages if necessary to reduce wildfire risks.
No power outages were reported early Monday morning, but the following areas remain under watch: Los Angeles County (35,713 customers), Orange County (8,154 customers), Riverside County (38,174 customers), San Bernardino County (50,277 customers) , and Ventura County (38,011 customers).