Strong trade winds buffeted the Islands last night, a precursor to cloudy and rainy weather forecast for this weekend.

Winds in many places around the state were in the 15 to 20 mph range yesterday, with gusts as high as 48 mph, at Läna'i Airport.

On O'ahu, gusts of 38 mph were recorded in Wai'anae, 28 mph at Bellows Air Force Station and 25 mph at Käne'ohe Marine Corps Air Station.

The National Weather Service said a high-pressure system north of Hawai'i would bring strong winds through this morning. After that, a front associated with a low to the northwest will cross the state beginning Saturday, bringing clouds and rain.

It was not immediately known if the winds contributed to power problems last night. Hawaiian Electric Co. crews were dispatched to a leaning utility pole in the Ala Moana area and a power outage in Pälolo.

Police closed part of Ke'eaumoku Street just before 8 p.m. because of a leaning utility pole. The mauka-bound lanes were closed at Rycroft Street and the makai-bound lanes were closed at Leona Street, police said.

HECO spokesman Darren Pai said a HECO crew planned to brace the pole last night and revisit the site today.

Power was not been interrupted because of the leaning pole, Pai said.