Some Nuevo Homes Still Without Power Following Storm

Seventeen Nuevo households were still without power late Monday afternoon, but Southern California Edison crews were making great progress with repairs to power lines blown down during a storm cell that hit the area on Sunday.

A total of 2,167 homes were without power after a "severe weather event" originally termed a tornado by Riverside County Fire officials tore down power lines in a small section of Nuevo, primarily along Menifee Road.

Susan Cox, a spokesperson for SCE, said five crews have been working in the area since 8 p.m. last night to restore power. They hope to have the work completed by late Tuesday or early Wednesday, she said.

Crews working with large cranes were focusing on down power lines along Menifee Road at the intersections at Central Avenue and at Nuevo Road. Traffic was diverted east to Olivas Avenue, part of which is a dirt road. That area became a busy, dusty stretch of road as motorists tried to get around the affected areas.