High winds wallop California

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- High winds hit California, knocking out power, kicking up dust clouds and complicating landings of several flights at Los Angeles International Airport.

Strong winds also prompted the indefinite closure of the rebuilt San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge after a cable snapped, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. The cable snapped on the westbound upper deck, striking at least one vehicle and snarling rush hour traffic.

Train officials in an e-mail said Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach service was suspended between Amtrak's San Francisco and Emeryville stations until the Bay Bridge reopens to vehicular traffic.

The National Weather Service said winds between 30 mph and 50 mph walloped some areas of Southern California, with gusts up to 70 mph. NWS issued red flag warnings in mountain areas because of high winds and low relative humidity.

In Riverside Country, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a windblown dust and ash advisory in the Coachella Valley, the San Francisco Chronicle said. Areas of the San Gabriel Valley ravaged by wildfires also were expected to reach unhealthy air levels, the agency said.

People broadcast news and photos about the high winds and their damage via Twitter, with one poster saying, "These winds are out of control."