Santa Ana Winds Blow Through Ventura County

Warm, strong Santa Ana winds are gusting across parts of Southern California and some of the warmest spots are in Ventura County. The Santa Ana winds are expected to last until Thursday afternoon.

On Wednesday, Oxnard was one of the warmest and the windiest areas in Ventura County, with gusts exceeding 40 mph.

“I think it is a really nice day and people should take an opportunity to get out here and walk and enjoy all this,” said Oxnard resident Jennie Mouro.

In the middle of winter parts of the Tri-Counties are seeing temperatures this week well into the 80s.

“We are very lucky we are having like 80 degrees here on the beach. It might as well be the middle of summer and on the East Coast they are digging themselves out storm after storm after storm, you know and they have to dig themselves out and then go to work,” said Donna Hendrix of Oxnard.

The summer-like weather could make for a perfect beach day, but unfortunately the fierce winds are making the beach less desirable for surfers and beach-goers.

“It is too windy, it would be a little bit better if the waves were bigger but it’s a little too small so the wind is almost shutting it down, but if it was bigger and slightly less wind it would be kind of perfect,” said surfer Jacob Smith.

“It is very wild. I mean I was walking down by the water and sand was blowing from way down on the beach and it felt like my legs were being sand-blasted,” said Oxnard resident Maureen Borkowski.

The National Weather Service also notes that these gusty winds can make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles. So be extra cautious on the road.