Gah. SoCalistas, did you hear the weather report this morning? We're in for some winter.
... Potentially record setting cold conditions with very low snow levels later this week...
... Widespread hard freeze possible across many wind-sheltered locations late Friday night into early Sunday morning...
A very cold upper level low pressure system over the Pacific northwest will continue to dive southward across California on Thursday and Friday... bringing potntially record setting colder air into the region. This system will also bring a chance of intermittent rain and even snow showers to much of the region from Thursday into Friday evening... especially over the mountains.
While this weather system is not expected to produce a lot of precipitation... it will likely bring very low snow levels to the region. Initially... snow levels are expected to lower to between 4000 and 5000 feet by Thursday afternoon... lowest across northern mountain ranges. Snow levels are expected to rapidly lower to around 1500 feet late Thursday night into Friday morning... with snow flurries possibly down to 1000 feet. While any snow accumulation in the foothills and valleys is expected to be minimal... the mountains could experience a few inches of new snow with this very cold and unsettled weather pattern. Major roadways that could be impacted by the very low snow levels include Interstate 5 from the Grapevine to Santa Clarita... Interstate 14 through the Soledad Canyon... Highway 33 in Ventura County... Highway 154 through Santa Barbara County... the cuesta grade along Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo County... and Highway 2 from La Crescenta into the lower foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. As we draw closer to this event... a Winter Weather Advisory will likely be needed across the mountain locations for the combination of snow... ice... and gusty winds. In addition... several valley and foothill locations may also require winter weather advisories.
Very cold temperatures can be expected across the Southland from Thursday through Saturday. Daytime high temperatures each day are only expected to be in the mid 40s to mid 50s across most of the valley areas... with mountain areas generally remaining in the 20s and 30s. But the big story will be very cold minimum temperatures Friday through Sunday... where there is the potential for widespread sub-freezing temperatures. As the air mass begins to dry out... the coldest nights are expected to be Friday and Saturday nights. As a result...a freeze watch has been posted for the valleys of Los Angeles and Ventura counties... the Santa Monica Mountains... as well as the coastal areas of Ventura and southern Santa Barbara counties. Areas under a freeze watch will have the potential for hard freeze conditions in wind sheltered locations... where minimum temperatures could fall to 28 degrees or less. As we draw closer to the event... a frost advisory may also need to be issued for the Los Angeles County coast... with some areas possibly reaching the freezing mark of 32 degrees. For more information on the freeze watch... please refer to the latest laxnpwlox product. While much of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties are expected to fall into the teens and 20s on Friday night and Saturday night... a freeze watch has not been included for these areas since they have already received multiple freeze episodes this season.
Residents should be prepared to take necessary measures to protect cold sensitive plants and animals. Exposed water pipes and sprinkler systems may also need protection.
A freeze watch means sub-freezing temperatures are possible. These conditions could kill crops and other tender vegetation.
Please stay tuned to your latest National Weather Service forecasts and statements on this developing weather situation.
I know that no one else will feel sorry for us, but I'm shivering already. (Yes, my blood has thinned. Shut up, Somervillians!)
Edited to fix wonky formatting.