L.A. cold snap, high winds to peak today; milder weather on tap

A burst of gusty winds that hit the Los Angeles region Tuesday morning is expected to give way to calmer conditions and warming temperatures.

Areas in eastern Ventura County and western L.A. County felt the brunt of the frigid temperatures amd high winds hit 65 mph in some areas, said Kathy Hoxsie of the National Weather Service.

The high winds had downed trees and power lines Tuesday morning and were expected to make driving difficult along the 5, 118 and 210 freeways, according the weather service. Thousands of customers from Granada Hills to Inglewood also temporarily lost power, although crews were still investigating the cause.

A wind advisory remained in effect for much of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, with gusts of up to 55 mph possible in local mountains.

“It’s peaking now,” Hoxsie said of the wintry weather. “And this weekend, we may have above normal temperatures.”

Temperatures have plummeted into the 30s and low 20s since last week as a low pressure system from Canada pushed down into the Southwest, causing frost and freeze advisories. The cold snap was also blamed for the deaths of four homeless people in Northern California.

But conditions are expected to warm up later in the week. Temperatures could rise into the 60s — even low 70s — this weekend as the weather system continues to make its way across the county, Hoxsie said.

Although daytime temperatures are expected to warm up, forecasters warned that late nights and early mornings could still bring bitter cold conditions, so the public should take extra care of pets, livestock and vegetation.

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