Southern California’s second storm of the week brought strong winds and rain to the region, leading to trees falling on and damaging a home and vehicles in Fullerton on Wednesday.
Vicky Aguilar walks towards a tree that fell during high winds in the early morning and rests on her roof on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Workers cut up trees that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The main sign at Totally 80’s Bar & Grille on Orangethorpe Avenue fell during during high winds in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Vicky Aguilar surveys damage inside a bedroom from a tree that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Workers cut up trees that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Virginia Nelson watches as workers cut up trees that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tom Wedge carries a branch from the side of his home as workers cut up trees that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A tree fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of West Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Damage to Vicky Aguilar’s home from a tree that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Damage to Vicky Aguilar’s home from a tree that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A vehicle is stuck under a tree that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of West Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Workers cut up trees that fell during high winds in the early morning on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Vicky Aguilar walks towards a tree that fell during high winds in the early morning and rests on her roof on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue in Fullerton, CA, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Thirty-year Fullerton resident Michelle Wedge got up to get a drink of water early Wednesday and laid back down when she heard thunder and lots of rain.
“I thought it was hailing so I got up to look what was going on,” Wedge said.
She saw a bunch of leaves when she looked out her back door. After her car alarm started going off, she went outside and saw that a tree had fallen onto it. “So I just yelled to my husband, ‘There’s a tree on my car!’” Wedge said.
Six trees fell around their property on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue, near Brookhurst Road and Valencia Avenue, said husband Tom Wedge.
Another Fullerton resident, Vicky Aguilar, said on Wednesday morning she heard what sounded like trash cans blowing in the wind around her house also located on the 1800 block of Ash Avenue. After her neighbor’s alarm went off, she went outside to see what was going on and saw trees all over.
“My foster daughter stopped me and she goes, ‘Look’ and rain was coming in her room,” Aguilar said.
The fallen tree resulted in a cracked roof and damage to the outside of Aguilar’s house, she said.
Another vehicle was damaged by a fallen tree on the nearby 1800 block of West Avenue.
“Even with healthy maintained trees, they may experience failure when exposed to elements like saturated soil combined with strong winds and storm impacts,” said Kim Chaudhry, a spokesperson for the city of Fullerton.
Fullerton’s Hunt Branch Library on the 200 block of South Basque Avenue was closed Wednesday morning due to a power outage and a downed tree blocking access to the facility. As of Wednesday afternoon, officials don’t know when it’ll be reopened.
The business sign of the Totally 80’s Bar & Grille on Orangethorpe Avenue also fell during the high winds in Fullerton.
While citywide damage is still being assessed, over two dozen trees had toppled over during the storm, Chaudhry added.
