Strong winds blew through the area Tuesday afternoon as predicted, closing a major highway, downing numerous trees and leaving many Taft residents without power as darkness started to fall.

The winds hit just about noon and by 1 p.m. were blowing dust across Highway 119, dropping visibility to zero on stretch between Valley Acres and Dustin Acres.

That’s where a car and truck collided, sending one woman to the hospital.

Details of that crash were not immediately available.

The low visibility and high winds prompted the CHP and Caltrans to close the highway from Midway Road to Highway 43 for a time.

The roadway was reopened to all traffic about 3 p.m.

In town, the winds downed numerous trees and large branches, including several along or near Church Street.
By mid afternoon, much of the city was in the without power, including the downtown, residential areas and even the Taft Police Department.

Up to 1,600 Taft area PG&E customers were blacked out at one point and there was no word on when full power would be restored.

Volleyball matches at taft Union High School involving TUHS and Shafter were postponed by the weather.

The area remains under a high wind warning until midnight as a strong storm moves through the area.
Taft could still see some rain – maybe as much as a quarter inch, according to the National Weather Service.