California Region: The “fiercest Santa Ana winds in a decade†swept through Southern California starting November 30 and are expected to subside Friday, December 2, 2011. Strong winds downed trees that damaged homes and broke windows with claims concentrated in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The extensive winds downed trees and tree limbs took out power lines, cutting electricity to hundreds of thousands of utility customers, utility officials said. Although Southern California was hardest hit, loses have also been reported from across the entire state.