Winds Cause Problems in Southern California

While power crews tried to restore power to more than 430,000 homes in Southern California as residents braced for a second night of unusually powerful Santa Ana winds.

Severe winds and fallen trees hampered repair crews yesterday and residents near downed or dangling lines should stay inside, Southern California Edison, which said in a statement that 215,086 customers had lost service.

Los Angeles County declared a state of emergency because of the unusually strong Santa Ana conditions that result when wind rushes through ridges that surround the second-largest U.S. city. Strong winds are forecast to continue through mid-day today, with gusts near 60 miles per hour -- approaching gale force --in the mountains of Ventura and Los Angeles counties, the National Weather Service forecast on its website.

The hardest-hit areas in Edison’s service area included foothill communities of La Canada Flintridge, Monrovia and Altadena. Pasadena, which has its own utility, declared a state of emergency, as did neighboring Sierra Madre.

Hurricane-force winds downed powerline and caused flights to Los Angeles International Airport to be diverted in the early hours of Dec. 1.

Santa Ana winds -- dry, warm gusts that blow in from the desert -- reached 140 miles per hour along mountain crests yesterday, according to the National Weather Service.

It’s “the strongest easterly wind event in the past several years,” and the gusts combined with dry weather are creating a “significant fire threat,” the service said on its website.

San Diego is Luckiest City in America

San Diego, which has been touted as having the best weather in the United States, is also the luckiest, according to a new ranking.

The sunny southern California city won the top spot in the Men's Health magazine list of America's 100 luckiest towns, with Baltimore, Phoenix, Wilmington in Delaware and Richmond, Virginia not far behind.

"Luck is basically our modern world's magic," said David Zinczenko, editor in chief of the magazine. "People need to believe in luck because it allows them to give a name to the randomness of life, and when you name something, you have more power over it."

To determine the most charmed towns the magazine analyzed data about cities with the most lottery and sweepstake winners, the most hole-in-ones on the golf course, the fewest lighting strikes, the least deaths from falling objects, and the lowest debt due to playing the lottery and race betting.

"San Diego's multiple jackpot winners, its low lightning strike count, and its low number of lightning-related injuries and deaths helped push it to the top," Zinczenko said.

So I guess if you want to enjoy some nice weather, and win the lottery, head to San Diego.

Helicopter Crashes into Raytheon Building in Los Angeles

Fox News is reporting that a helicopter has crashed into a building in Los Angeles.

The helicopter was lifting something at Raytheon Space Building in Los Angeles and has crashed.  There is a three-alarm fire in progress.

Apparently while lifting a load from the Raytheon Building, the helicopter reportedly erupted into a ball of flames near East El Segundo Boulevard Sunday at around 9:32 a.m.(Pacific Time)

Onlookers say the pilot was pulled from the crash wreckage and he is being treated at a local hospital.

The Amazing Race Season Finale 'Hi. I’m Sorry. I’m in a Race’

It's down to the final three teams for the final leg of this season's Amazing Race.  Two all-girl teams remain racing, so we could have the first all-girl winner crowned tonight.

All we know at this point is the teams will be in Southern California, competing in the final leg for a shot at the million-dollar prize.  We also have been tipped off that there will be a special appearance by a famous game show host.

It will air tonight after 60 Minutes.

Update on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at 9:39PM by Rick C.Limpert

Nat and Kat win the $1 Million and The Amazing Race.