LOS ANGELES — Powerful winds will lash the Southland today, sailors will confront rough seas, and high surf and strong rip currents will create perilous conditions for swimmers and surfers, forecasters said.

The potentially most damaging winds may materialize in the Antelope Valley, where a wind advisory will be in force until 9 this morning, when it will give way to a more serious high wind warning scheduled to remain in effect until 8 tonight. A high wind warning denotes an expectation of 58-mph winds or gusts.

Northwest winds of between 20 and 35 miles per hour with gusts of 50 mph are expected in the Antelope Valley through early this morning, after which they will strengthen to between 25 and 40 mph, with gusts of 60 mph, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Isolated gusts of 65 mph are possible in the Antelope Valley, they said, adding that the strongest winds are expected this afternoon.

“Winds this strong may down trees and power lines and cause property damage,” according to an NWS statement.

Additionally, “strong winds can make driving difficult, especially for drivers of high-profile vehicles and vehicles towing trailers. Blowing sand and dust will cause visibility to lower to near zero at times.”

Somewhat tamer but sill potentially destructive winds are expected outside the Antelope Valley.

A wind advisory will be in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday in the San Gabriel mountains in both Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph will sweep mountain areas, accompanied by 50-mph gusts, according to the NWS.

Winds of 20-30 mph are expected, along with 40 mph gusts, on Santa Catalina Island, in beach cities, metropolitan Los Angeles, downtown L.A. and the Hollywood Hills, according to forecasters, and a wind advisory will be in effect in those areas until 9 tonight.

In the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, northwest winds of between 15 and 25 mph are expected, along with 40 mph gusts. A wind advisory will be in force from noon today until 3 a.m. Tuesday in the Santa Clarita Valley and from 3.p.m. today until 3 a.m. Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley.

Off the coast, mariners will confront rough seas today, according to the NWS. A gale warning will be in force off Santa Catalina until 9 tonight, and until 5 a.m. Tuesday in other sectors.

The ocean off Catalina is expected to experience west winds of between 20 and 30 knots, along with 40-knot gusts, forecasters said, adding that combined seas of 11 to 14 feet are possible.

“Operating a vessel in gale conditions requires experience and properly equipped vessel,” said an NWS statement. “It is highly recommended that mariners without the proper experience seek safe harbor prior to the onset of gale conditions.”

Also in effect today was a high surf advisory, which will be in force until 5 a.m. Tuesday in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Forecasters warned of surf of between four and seven feet, with sets of nine feet along the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

“Large waves and strong rip currents will make swimming and rock jetties dangerous,” an NWS statement said. “If caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore until you are free… Always swim near a lifeguard.”

The NWS forecast partly cloudy skies in Los Angeles County today and highs of 40 in Big Bear; 58 on Mount Wilson; 59 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 66 in Avalon, Santa Clarita and Torrance; 67 at LAX and in Redlands; 68 in San Pedro, San Bernardino and Rancho Cucamonga; 69 in Ontario, Long Beach and San Gabriel; 70 in downtown L.A., Van Nuys, North Hollywood, Burbank, Whittier and West Covina; 71 in Northridge and Pasadena; and 72 in Woodland Hills.

Temperatures will be higher Tuesday — around five degrees in some communities — but revert to today’s levels on Wednesday. Showers are expected in L.A. County on Thursday.