Daiyan Henley, Chargers’ defense does its part in loss to Bills

• September 28, 2026

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen handed the ball to running back James Cook on the first play of Sunday’s game against the Chargers. Cook ran up the middle and straight into Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, who forced a fumble. Linebacker Daiyan Henley recovered the ball at the Bills’ 47-yard line.

It was the first of three fumbles the Chargers would force to go with two interceptions of Allen by rookie safety Genesis in what proved to be as well as their defense has played this season, and against an elite opponent, too. The Bills had scored an NFL-leading 77 points going into Sunday.

Why forcing five turnovers wasn’t good enough to trigger a victory was something of a mystery, as far as the Chargers’ defensive unit was concerned. None of the Chargers’ defenders would speak about how or why their offensive counterparts didn’t do their part in a 24-16 loss, mind you.

Pointing fingers is not in the Chargers’ DNA.

Winning has got to be a group effort, though.

It was not the case as the Chargers dropped to 0-3 to start the season.

“We need everybody, in all three phases, to contribute to a win,” Henley said after making a team-leading nine tackles to go with two fumble recoveries. “So, it doesn’t matter how good we perform (on defense). We could have done more, you know what I’m saying? That’s what it comes down to.”

The Chargers’ defense did plenty, though.

Allen completed 16 of 26 passes for a season-low 204 yards. In addition to intercepting him twice, the Chargers also sacked him four times. He threw for 334 yards and two TDs in a 36-31 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 1 and for 248 yards and three TDs in a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 2.

“I think up to this date, that was our best performance,” Henley said. “Just simply off turnovers, right? That’s why I say we can, obviously, do more just be sure we can put a pin in a game like that, making sure there is no error. When you play a good team with good players over there (the Bills), they’re going to take any opportunity they can find. And, so, well, they found some, and that’s what it was.”

HISTORY LESSON

The Chargers haven’t started a season 0-3 since 2017, when they opened their first season as the Los Angeles Chargers with a 0-4 mark en route to a 9-7 record and a second-place finish in the AFC West. They won their next three and seven of their next nine.

“That was one year before I got here,” said Chargers safety Derwin James Jr., who was their first-round draft pick out of Florida State in 2018. “They won nine straight (actually, seven of nine), and then they picked me 17th (overall). I remember that.”

INJURY UPDATE

Cornerback Donte Jackson was forced from the game in the second quarter after he was diagnosed with a concussion. He must enter the NFL’s concussion protocol before he’s allowed to practice or play. It wasn’t immediately clear when or how he was injured.

​ Orange County Register 

Listenupshance, Super Corredora score Santa Anita wins

• September 28, 2026

ARCADIA — The Breeders’ Cup next month in Kentucky will be full of stories about how the contenders reached thoroughbred racing’s fall classic.

The always-popular category of “rags-to-riches horse” may already have its star.

As trainer Doug O’Neill put it, the rise of the 4-year-old gelding named Listenupshance is “a crazy story.”

Listenupshance, who sprang another mild surprise by winning the Grade II Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sunday with jockey Emisael Jaramillo, was bought at a yearling auction for just $10,000 and began his ascent by winning a Del Mar maiden race in which he was available to be claimed for $20,000.

That’s not the half of it. Soon after that July 2025 victory, Listenupshance was sold privately to a partnership that included the microshare ownership group Run Fast Racing, founded by music executive Adam Kluger and involving singers Lil Yachty, Lil Wayne and Rauw Alejandro. Eager to give Lil Yachty a taste of victory the first time the rapper planned to go to the races, Kluger asked new trainer Doug O’Neill to find an easy spot for the horse.

O’Neill chose a basement-level $10,000 claiming sprint, expecting to win the race but lose the horse. Unfortunately, or fortunately as it turned out, the race drew an overflow of entries and Listenupshance wasn’t going to get in. As a backup plan, Listenupshance was entered in an allowance-class turf sprint in which he looked overmatched.

He wouldn’t win. But “We’ve got to give Little Yachty the (racetrack) experience,” O’Neill remembered thinking.

He won. At 17-1. And he has kept outrunning his odds.

A photo-finish victory over Maximum Bourbon at nearly 6-1 in the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in July earned the son of Shancelot free entry in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at the Oct. 30-31 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, in Lexington, Ky. The three-quarter-length win over favorite Maximum Bourbon as the crowd’s 6-5 second choice on Sunday gave him an unneeded second entry in the Sprint.

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship was reduced to three horses – March of Time finished third – when 2025 winner Imagination and Ahrens were scratched. The time of 1:08.70 for 6 furlongs, on a sun-baked track, was the fourth fastest in the past 12 runnings of the race. Listenupshance really went faster than that after a sluggish start; Jaramillo said the cotton O’Neill puts in the anxious gelding’s ears kept him from reacting to the gate opening.

“This is a horse that probably shouldn’t be with us still,” said O’Neill, referring to how he nearly risked Listenupshance in a cheap claiming race. “It’s just been incredible. He’s a really fun horse. He just keeps getting better and better.

“He’s just one of those horses that run to their competition. As the waters got deeper, he kept keeping up with the competition. He’s a natural competitor.”

It’s rags to riches for the horse, though not the owners and trainer. O’Neill is a two-time Kentucky Derby winner and five-time Breeders’ Cup race winner. He played modest in talking about Listenupshance.

“That tells you the inexact science of horse racing, right?,” O’Neill said. “A lot of blind luck. A good horse will do well no matter who’s surrounding him and making dumb decisions.”

The Santa Anita Sprint Championship was one of two Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races Sunday and one of seven graded stakes on the first weekend of Santa Anita’s fall meet.

Three-year-old Super Corredora and Joel Rosario beat a well-matched field of fillies and mares in the Grade II Zenyatta Stakes at nearly 8-1 to earn a trip to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Little had gone right for the daughter of Gun Runner since she won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar last November, and she’d been off since March. A sharp training job by John Sadler got her ready and almost over problems at the starting gate — she reared before the break Sunday.

“It’s (her) first time against older, and there were some nice horses in there, so I was really thrilled with her effort,” Sadler said.

The 1:42.93 for 1-1/16 miles was the second fastest of the past 10 editions of the Zenyatta.

Racing continues at Santa Anita with a nine-race card Friday at 1 p.m.

The second of two stakes-packed weekends will put 2-year-olds in the spotlight. Entries will be set Monday for the Saturday, Oct. 3 American Pharoah Stakes and Del Mar Debutante.

Inshallah, the $2.1 million son of Flightline who scored a fast debut win at Del Mar wasn’t nominated to the American Pharoah and Sadler said the colt is out for the rest of 2026.

“He has a little shin issue, so you won’t see him until after the first of the year,” said Sadler, but the goal remains “the big 3-year-old races.”

​ Orange County Register 

Meet the Kings heading into the 2026-27 NHL season

• September 27, 2026

After dispensing with the formalities of the preseason, the Kings were ramping up toward Wednesday’s season-opening visit to the opponent that punted them from the playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche.

While there existed few hotly-contested battles in camp, there were a couple surprises in terms of both roster spots and positional battles.

Say hello to the 2026-27 Kings.

CORE VETS

Adrian Kempe, wing

The Kings’ leading scorer for three seasons running is in the first year of a maximum-term extension, which nearly doubled his previous $5.5 million salary. He broke into the NHL as a center but has excelled on the wing, and he’s even logged some shifts on defense. Wherever he lines up, he has the deepest all-around impact on the silver and black.

Artemi Panarin, wing

Though he’ll turn 35 early in the coming campaign, Panarin will be counted as the driving force for the Kings, offensively and on the power play. He arrived after the Olympic break last season when the team was in disrepair due to injuries and departures. Now, his first full cycle as a King reunites him with Peter Laviolette, under whom he had a career year with the New York Rangers in 2023-24.

Kevin Fiala, wing

No post-Olympic absence was felt more than that of Fiala, a balanced threat in terms of shooting and playmaking. In Milan, broke the same leg he broke in 2017 while playing for Laviolette as a Nashville Predator, requiring surgery in February and another procedure earlier this month. Uncertainty surrounds the health and form of Fiala, who trails only Kempe in terms of points per game since joining the team in 2022.

Drew Doughty, defense

Doughty has missed 62 games in the past two seasons, something that was unthinkable in his prime, but still played in two major tournaments for Canada during that span. Though his game had the feel of a bald tire at times, he has appeared rejuvenated in the small sample size of training camp and a pair of exhibition games. An invigorated Doughty would be an enormous boost to the NHL’s oldest roster, one that the 36-year-old will captain for the first time this season.

ALSO

Quinton Byfield, center

The time is now for Byfield, who has developed into an elite defensive player with athleticism to spare but still needs to produce offensively on more consistent and prolific bases. The only natural top-six center on the club, he should receive every opportunity, presently centering Panarin and Kempe on the top line.

Brandt Clarke, defense

Clarke took strides yet again last year in terms of not only offensive output but also defensive contribution and the bottom line. He led all Kings defensemen in goals, assists, points, power-play points, blocked shots and goals-for percentage, and by wide margins. He should flourish in Laviolette’s system after being shackled often under Jim Hiller.

Alex Laferriere, wing

Laferriere has essentially posted the same numbers two seasons in a row but did so last year playing more center on a team that struggled to score –– goals have dipped across four straight campaigns and last year the Kings had a negative goal differential. He appears settled on the wing and should also benefit from a more offensive-minded approach behind the bench.

CONSISTENT CONTRIBUTORS

Mikey Anderson (D), Trevor Moore (W), Darcy Kuemper (G),  Anton Forsberg (G), Joel Edmundson (D), Brian Dumoulin (D), Joel Armia (W).

Anderson became a fixture on the top pairing with both Doughty and the since-departed Vladislav Gavrikov, but a downturn last year and a new coach this season had him getting looks on the third pairing during camp. He and Dumoulin switched spots, though in over 250 minutes of ice time with Doughty last year, the D&D pairing underwhelmed. Kuemper and Forsberg entered last season as a No. 1/No. 2 tandem, but now might be considered more of a 1A/1B as the gap between them narrowed. Moore remains a system-suited Swiss Army knife. Armia’s physicality and penalty killing were assets before his back injury last season, from which he healed over the summer. Edmundson set career highs in games played in back-to-back seasons and has been a stable partner for Clarke.

ON THE FRINGE

Cody Ceci (D), Samuel Helenius (C).

GM Ken Holland has been enamored with Ceci for some time, bringing him into both Edmonton and Los Angeles, but Ceci rewarded his trust less than ever last season. It was hard to discern where his value lied given his lack of tangible production, poor underlying numbers and the overall decline of both the penalty kill (they plummeted from eighth to 30th in the league) and defense (second to eighth). Helenius brings loads of size to the table and will stick up for teammates, but his lack of speed and agility have made him a difficult player to utilize in many matchups.

WILD CARDS

Alex Turcotte (F), Andre Lee (W).

Turcotte, 2019’s fifth overall pick whose expectations were reset after concussions and other injuries ravaged his development years, could be the most intriguing player on the roster. He improved in the faceoff circle last season and showed promise between Fiala and Andrei Kuzmenko, who is now a Pittsburgh Penguin, before all three players got hurt. With a massive void in the middle following Anže Kopitar’s retirement, Turcotte could ascend to the 2C role that was envisioned for him when he was drafted. Lee is another player in his mid-20s who’s had a steep development curve, but he could make the most of the roster spot opened up by Fiala’s injury.

NEWCOMERS (AND A RETURNER)

Mats Zuccarello (W), Erik Haula (F), Erik Gustafsson (D), Scott Laughton (F), Corey Perry (W).

Zuccarello was Holland’s biggest acquisition of the offseason with the 39-year-old joining the Kings on a one-year deal jam-packed with bonuses. He had 54 points in 59 games last year for Minnesota in a productive effort that was hindered by multiple injuries. Haula also signed over the summer and Laughton, who was acquired in the dying gasps of trade-deadline day, re-signed. Both are capable of plugging holes in the middle or on the flank. Gustafsson and AHL-bound Scott Perunovich also came aboard in the offseason, with Gustafsson having played for Laviolette in two previous stops. Longtime Kings nemesis Perry, 41, returned after splitting last year between his first stint with the Kings and his second with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

​ Orange County Register 

Angels go out swinging (and missing) in 100th loss of the season

• September 27, 2026

SEATTLE — Logan Gilbert struck out eight in four no-hit innings and five Seattle pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts as the Mariners beat the Angels 7-3 in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The Angels finish the 2026 season with a record of 62-100, the first 100 loss season in franchise history. It was a 10-game slide for the Angels, who were a 72-90 record in 2025.

Gilbert retired the first 12 batters he face and after walking Moises Ballesteros at the start of the fifth inning was lifted and left to a standing ovation from the Mariners fans.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Weston Wilson drove in Cole Young with a grounder to third base.

Seattle scored two more runs in the third on Cal Raleigh’s RBI single off Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi, and Dominic Canzone scored on a groundout by Josh Naylor to make it 3-0.

Kikuchi (1-7) allowed three runs on six hits over five innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Bryce Teodosio scored for the Angels on a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning, but the Mariners responded with three in the bottom half when Young scored on an Angels throwing error and Randy Arozarena drove in two with a double to make it 6-1.

Jose Siri hit a two-run homer for the Angels in the eighth, and Leo Rivas scored for the Mariners in the bottom half on a wild pitch.

Cooper Criswell pitched the ninth for the Mariners. Eduard Bazardo (4-4) got the win.

After finishing the 2025 season with a 90-72 record and advancing to the seventh game of the ALCS against Toronto, the Mariners missed the playoffs with a disappointing 76-86 record this season. Despite that mark, the Mariners drew 2,883,798 fans in 2026, the team’s highest total since 2004.

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers complete 100-win season with win over Giants

• September 27, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO – Well, enough of that – now on to the important stuff.

The Dodgers reached the end of the compulsory phase of their year, finishing the regular season with a 5-1 win in 10 innings against the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.

The win was the Dodgers’ 100th of the season. It is the 12th time in franchise history that they have finished a season with 100 wins. None of the previous 100-win regular seasons were followed by a World Series championship.

“So we’re due,” Freddie Freeman said to that. “That just means we’re due as an organization.

“It means a lot. Truly, 100 wins is hard to do. It’s six months. It’s a grind. A lot of ups and downs. A lot of people getting hurt. A lot of depth pieces stepping up. A lot of good things happening for a lot of good people on this team. A hundred wins is hard to do. We haven’t been able to do it the last couple years so to be able to do it this year is special.”

This is their first 100-win season since 2023 but the sixth in the past nine full seasons. For Dave Roberts, he has tied Hall of Fame managers Bobby Cox and Joe McCarthy for the most 100-win seasons as a manager.

“It doesn’t change anything as far as kind of our standing going forward in the postseason, but it’s still a nice feather in our cap to win 100 games,” Roberts said.

“A lot of good players, a great organization, and it’s not easy to win 100 games. There’s a lot of things that we had to go through this year, and we just continue to remain steadfast and play on. And so, yeah, that’s something to be proud of.”

The Dodgers will now take Monday off before getting together for four days of simulated games, live batting practice and whatever else they deem necessary to get ready for the opening of the postseason that will determine if they can become the first National League franchise to win three consecutive World Series championships.

Game 1 of their NL Division Series will be Saturday at Dodger Stadium against the winner of the Wild Card Series between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. That best-of-three series begins Tuesday in Atlanta – and the Dodgers will be watching.

“There’s going to be some watch parties at the ballpark. I thought that was something that was really good,” Roberts said of the bye week itinerary established in 2024. “You’re not playing in the Wild Card Series, but you’re watching it and you kind of get your juices going. There’s also a bonding piece that I think is important.

“I thought we did a good job of having enough live and game situations, simulating them. Our coaches are sort of revisiting what we did a couple years ago. If there’s things we want to improve on or what – it worked out well a couple years ago. A lot of it’s also contingent on how guys are feeling, making sure they get rested and reset.”

MLB’s easiest September schedule allowed the Dodgers to go into their bye week with positive momentum. They went 18-7 in the final month (including 6-0 against the Giants in the final 10 days). Only the San Diego Padres (19-6) had more wins in the month.

“I think everybody has the same attitude,” Mookie Betts said. “Once we get to this time, we’ll be ready to go. You understand that there is a distinct difference between now and the regular season. … We’ll keep the same attitude but probably add more intensity and whatnot because it’s a short amount of time (in the postseason).”

Those bye-week sim games essentially started this weekend at Oracle Park.

On Sunday, the Dodgers sent seven pitchers to the mound to get their work. They allowed one run on five hits — and survived giving up the potential game-deciding home run. Giants shortstop Christian Koss took Dodgers reliever Bobby Miller deep leading off the eighth inning — but replay review turned the home run into a foul ball.

Roki Sasaki made his third appearance out of the bullpen since returning from a blister and did nothing to undermine his status as perhaps the most important bullpen weapon the Dodgers will have this postseason. He struck out two of the three batters he faced in a 1-2-3 inning.

Over his three innings in relief, Sasaki has faced 11 batters and struck out six, allowing two hits in his first appearance and none since.

“I think the fastball’s better,” Roberts said, comparing the version of Sasaki the Dodgers got when they moved him to the bullpen last postseason. “I think the split’s better. It’s also nice that he’s already done it. Just in total, he’s just a better pitcher than he was last year and a lot more confident.”

Edwin Diaz continued to affirm his status as a rediscovered bullpen weapon with another 1-2-3 inning. And Roberts reported Edgardo Henriquez has been throwing bullpen sessions this weekend and will participate in the bye week workouts with the expectation that he will be ready to return from his lower back injury and be part of the Dodgers’ NLDS bullpen.

The Dodgers’ offense didn’t spark to life until the 10th inning when Alex Call doubled in the free runner then trotted home on a three-run home run by Andy Pages.

Shohei Ohtani went 1 for 3 in the season finale, bouncing a single through the left side for his base hit. In five games since returning from the Injured List, Ohtani was 5 for 21 (.238) with eight strikeouts and just one extra-base hit (a double).

“I thought he looked fine,” Roberts said. “I do think that just getting some at-bats, however many he got since he came back, and then really just this (bye) week is going to be really crucial. I think for Freddie, I think it’s going to be crucial for Shohei. So yeah, I mean, I thought it looked better today.

“I thought the process early was great. I thought in the middle of that he was kind of getting a little more anxious. I thought today the process was much better. But I think the main thing is that we feel that he came out of it healthy, and so you just expect the ensuing days he feels even better. So, when you look out to Saturday, I think he’ll be in a good spot.”

​ Orange County Register 

Walmart says it’s not using personal information to set prices as it expands digital shelf labels

• September 27, 2026

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) — Walmart is aiming to assuage customers’ fears about its new pricing technology as it rolls out digital price labels at its stores.

In a statement posted on the company’s website, Walmart Inc.’s CEO John Furner vowed that the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer isn’t using personal information like income, shopping history or a customer’s willingness to pay to set prices, and it won’t be doing so in the future either.

“We don’t set different prices based on who you are or the time of day, and we won’t,” Furner wrote Friday. “Whether you’re buying groceries or electronics on a hot afternoon or in a sudden rush for an item, it’s never a reason to charge you more.”

The pledge from Walmart comes as concerns are mounting from some shoppers, consumer advocates and lawmakers skeptical about the rollout of digital price labels by the discounter and other stores. Digital price labels are rapidly replacing paper shelf tags at U.S. supermarkets and let stores change prices instantly from a central computer instead of having workers swap out paper labels by hand.

Furner noted that Walmart is also holding its artificial intelligence shopping assistant Sparky to the same promise and won’t be using the bot to raise a customer’s price or hide lower-priced options that meet their needs.

Furner said such practices would violate the company’s “every day low prices” business model.

He also noted that prices can change: Walmart lowers them when it can pass savings along, or sometimes raises them because an item costs more to buy or to transport, he said.

Walmart said in March that 2,300 Walmart U.S. locations already use digital shelves, and it expects this technology to be chain-wide within the next year.

Walmart executives have repeatedly said it uses electronic shelf price tags to help the retailer change prices consistently and match what rings up at checkout. It also saves workers time and reduces labor costs by replacing paper tags.

Last month, the Federal Trade Commission said that it’s putting companies on notice that the practice of personalizing pricing could violate consumer protection laws. The agency said it does not have the legal authority to ban personalized pricing in all circumstances, but it issued a new bulletin that warned companies that they must disclose to customers how the personal information is being used to set a price.

​ Orange County Register 

Chargers’ loss to Bills drops them to 0-3, puts season in jeopardy

• September 27, 2026

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Chargers’ season of frustration continued with a 24-16 loss Sunday to the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. The Chargers forced five turnovers and limited their mistakes to a handful while playing a credible first half, but it caught up to them eventually.

Jim Harbaugh had never started a season 0-2 as an NFL coach. The Chargers hadn’t started a season 0-3 since 2017, when they opened their first season as the Los Angeles Chargers with a 0-4 mark en route to a 9-7 record and a second-place finish in the AFC West.

But here they are, winless and with their season in jeopardy.

The Bills went into the game 2-0, and with the NFL’s best offense, having scored 77 points. Oddsmakers made them seven-point favorites over the Chargers, who had scored only 14 points in each of their losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders.

Three takeaways, 10 first-quarter points, zero penalties, zero turnovers.

But all the Chargers’ had for their best half of the season was a 10-10 tie with the Bills by halftime. A rare miss by kicker Cameron Dicker, from 45 yards, turned the momentum into Buffalo’s favor and Josh Allen rallied the Bills into a tie with two scoring drives in the final 6:02 of the half.

Allen’s 1-yard quarterback sneak tied it with 16 seconds left in the half.

All things considered, the Chargers could have had a larger lead than their 10-0 advantage after the first quarter, having forced Bills running back James Cook to fumble on the first play from scrimmage and then converted on Justin Herbert’s 1-yard touchdown pass to running back Keaton Mitchell.

Allen tried to pick on rookie safety Genesis Smith, but Smith picked him off, which led to Dicker’s 31-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead with 34 seconds left in the opening quarter. Allen tried it again on the first play of the second quarter, but Smith intercepted him again.

The Chargers were scoreless in the second quarter, but they regained the lead, 13-10, on Dicker’s 21-yard field goal on their opening possession of the third. They scored points despite being penalized twice for false starts and once each for blocking in the back and holding.

Allen put the Bills in front for the first time in the game, 17-13, midway through the fourth quarter with his second 1-yard quarterback sneak of the game, leaving the Chargers 7:35 to retake the lead or walk away with their third consecutive season.

Cook’s 3-yard touchdown run with 3:13 left sealed the deal, sending the reeling Chargers home with more questions than answers.

Next: The Chargers face the Super Bowl champion Seahawks in Seattle next Sunday, and the distinct possibility of a repeat of their 0-4 start of a decade ago.

MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY

​ Orange County Register 

Wind advisory issued for 5 Freeway north of LA for Monday and Tuesday

• September 27, 2026

5 Freeway north of LA is the focus of a wind advisory issued at 1:15 p.m. on Sunday by the National Weather Service. The advisory is valid from Monday 6 p.m. until Tuesday Sept. 29, at 6 a.m.

The NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA informs, “North winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts of 30 to 45 mph expected.”

“Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” according to the NWS. “Winds this strong can make driving difficult, especially for high profile vehicles. Use extra caution. Secure outdoor objects.”

The full list of affected locations includes:

• 5 Freeway corridor near Santa Clarita
• Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast
• Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast
• Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range
• Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range
• Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains
• Southern Ventura County Mountains
• Northern Ventura County Mountains

High wind alerts: Your guide to safety

When it comes to high wind alerts, staying informed is essential. Here’s a breakdown of the three-tiered alert system from the NWS and what each level entails:

High wind warning: Take action.

Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening. Seek shelter. If you are driving, keep both hands on the wheel and slow down.

Wind advisory: Take action.

Strong winds are occurring but are not so strong as to warrant a High wind warning. Objects that are outdoors should be secured and caution should be taken if driving.

High wind watch: Be prepared.

Sustained, strong winds are possible. Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you’re not caught outside.

How to prepare before strong winds approach

• Trim tree branches away from your house and power lines.
• Secure loose gutters and shutters.
• Identify an interior room of your house, such as a basement or interior bathroom, that you can take shelter in during high wind warnings.
• If you live in a mobile home, identify a sturdy building you can go to if the NWS issues a high wind or severe thunderstorm warning.
• Charge batteries of all essential items such as cell phones and booster packs, weather radios and power tools such as a reciprocating saw, which you might need to clear debris.
• Update your emergency kit and be sure to include enough food and water to last for 3 days for each person in your home.
• Make a list of items outside your home you will need to tie down or put away so that they don’t blow away or fly through a window. When the NWS issues a high wind watch, immediately secure these items to avoid damage or injury once the wind starts picking up.

How to act during strong winds

Take shelter:

• Immediately go inside a sturdy building during a high wind warning or severe thunderstorm warning and move to an interior room or basement.
• If you are in a mobile home, move to a sturdy building before the winds pick up or the storm system reaches your location.

If caught outside or driving:

• Take shelter in your car if you are not near a sturdy building. If possible, drive to a nearby sturdy building. Otherwise, move your car to a location where it is less likely to be hit by falling trees or power lines.
• If no shelter is available avoid trees, power lines, and the side of the road. Keep in mind that power lines that are laying on the ground may be live. Do not go near them! Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
• If you are driving and aren’t near a sturdy building, hold the steering wheel with both hands and slow down.
• Keep a distance from high profile vehicles such as trucks, buses and vehicles towing trailers. One strong gust of wind can be enough to flip one of these trailers onto its side.

What to do after strong winds subside

• Do not go near downed power lines. Report downed power lines to the police.
• Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.

For more local weather alerts, visit our Weather Advisory page

​ Orange County Register