WINDS SWEEP MOJAVE; GUSTS AT AIRPORT MEASURE 80 MPH.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

Wind gusting up to 80 mph downed power lines and a traffic signal, rolled an abandoned car across Highway 58, and left much of the Antelope Valley covered in a brown haze.

Winds were measured 35 mph at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale and at 80 mph at Mojave Airport.

``It's really blowing,'' said California Highway Patrol officer Steve Hunsaker in Mojave.

Downed power lines momentarily blacked out about 2,800 homes and businesses in Acton. The wind toppled a traffic signal at Sierra Highway and Avenue M.

In Mojave, the wind blew a Dodge Colt across four-lane Highway 58 east of Highway 14 and into the desert. The car apparently had run out of gas and was left parked on the eastbound shoulder.

``Someone came into our office and told us an empty car was rolling,'' said Hunsaker.``You could see where it had rolled across the street.''

``The wind gave it enough of a push,'' said Hunsaker. ``There was a bit of a downhill.''

Downed power lines at Avenue L and 52nd Street West knocked out power for about 2,800 customers for about 30 seconds in the Quartz Hill area. About 150 customers were without power longer.

``The wind caused the wires to sway together and come down,'' said Alis Clausen, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison.

Downed power lines in Acton shortly after 1:30 p.m. also knocked out power for about 28 homes and caused a small brush fire in the 32900 block of Wisconsin Street. But those power lines were knocked down when a tractor hit a guy wire supporting a utility pole, not by the wind, fire officials said.

``They were doing some tractor work,'' said Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Larry Jordan. ``They struck one of the guy wires.''

Officials said no traffic accidents have been blamed on the weather conditions, as of Wednesday afternoon.

Winds were expected to diminish today, officials said.