Winds, including gusts of 97 mph, raced through Southern California, knocking out electric power and disrupting operations at Los Angeles International Airport, according to UPI. Power was off in some terminals and debris was scattered over runways at LAX Wednesday night. The weather delayed many travelers, with at least 20 flights diverted to other airports and others circling the airport waiting for the wind to die down, the Los Angeles Times reported. The 97 mph gust was recorded north of Los Angeles in the Angeles National Forest, the newspaper said. Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said gusts were 40 knots or more, creating dangerous crosswinds as pilots attempted to land. Two runways were closed because of debris. In some of the darkened terminals travelers used cellphones as emergency flashlights. The Times said more than 25,000 customers in the region were without electrical service early Thursday. The wind put an AM news radio station, KNX, off the air for a time. Traffic lights in parts of the city were out. Forecasters said Southern California would experience high winds through Friday.
