by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com

Daylight has exposed the messy, but apparently not life- or property-threatening aftermath of Tuesday evening’s powerful winds. Trees are down throughout Claremont, and widespread power outages have been reported in northern portions of the city, but thus far no loss of life has been reported.

Trees are down on Foothill Boulevard just east of Indian Hill, on College Avenue just south of Foothill, Memorial Park, Lewis Park, and in June Vail Park, where officials caution people to stay away due to possible danger from falling branches.

A high wind warning from the National Weather Service remains in effect until 6 p.m. today, with north to northeast winds 30 to 50 mph with widespread gusts between 60 and 80 mph expected, and isolated gusts between 80 and 100 mph possible.

That Claremont is relatively unscathed is in stark contrast to the rest of Southern California, where wind-whipped fires have left two people dead and destroyed more than 1,000 homes, businesses, and buildings in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Altadena, and Sylmar. Iconic Malibu businesses such as Reel Inn have been lost. Malibu’s Getty Villa has been impacted, but has not burned, according to fire officials.

The high winds predicted for Southern California arrived Tuesday morning, with roaring gusts flexing trees, blowing leaves, and tinkling wind chimes before picking up velocity after sundown.

The Courier will update this story as more information becomes available. Courier photos/Peter Weinberger

Braving 65 mph gusts, crews work Tuesday to clear a fallen tree blocking all four lanes at Foothill Boulevard west of Indian Hill.

Strong winds caused a large tree to fall on 20-year Claremont resident John Yeung’s Forbes Avenue home Tuesday evening, damaging the roof and two cars in the driveway.

High winds splintered a eucalyptus tree on College Avenue Tuesday evening. Debris covered the street from falling trees and branches limiting access.

High winds felled a large tree at Foothill Boulevard just west of Indian Hill on Tuesday night. Crews were able to clear only one lane going east.

June Vail Park was littered with debris on Wednesday and the park was closed.

High winds took out a portion of this tree in Memorial Park on Tuesday.

Palm trees along Padua Avenue sway Tuesday afternoon as winds up to 48 mph buffeted Claremont.

The winds didn’t stop Kevin Pham and his 3-year-old daughter, Josephine, from trying to fly a kite at June Vail Park on Tuesday afternoon.