Southland’s cold snap is about to break
Much of Southern California will begin experiencing powerful winds and a gradual warm-up Tuesday in the wake of record low temperatures across the region, forecasters said.
By Wednesday, daytime temperatures are expected to reach 70 degrees in coastal and valley areas for the first time in nearly two weeks, the National Weather Service said.
The rise in temperatures will be caused by strong northeasterly winds that will keep warm air closer to the ground and help heat up the area at night, according to the weather service.
“The windier things are,” said agency meteorologist Jamie Meier, “the warmer it stays at night.”
Wind advisories were issued late Monday for mountain areas and the Santa Clarita Valley, where gusts of up to 50 mph were expected. The weather service also issued a frost warning for inland valleys in San Diego County and the Coachella Valley from 1 a.m. through 8 a.m. Tuesday.
On Monday, record low temperatures for the date were recorded or tied from Ventura to San Diego counties.
Camarillo Airport bottomed out at 33 degrees, breaking the record of 34 degrees set in 2006, the weather service said. A 38-degree reading at Long Beach Airport tied a record set in 1968.
At Oceanside Harbor, the low was 37 degrees, breaking by 1 degree a record set in 1968. Ramona recorded 24 degrees, which eclipsed a record of 28 degrees set in 1994.
Fire officials say the onset of colder weather often leads people to use ovens to heat up their homes or to warm up their vehicles inside their garages, both of which can cause a deadly buildup of carbon monoxide gases.
“We encourage people to understand the dangers of carbon monoxide fumes, which claim as many as 400 lives each year” nationwide, said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The weather service said temperatures Tuesday and Wednesday will still be chilly in places such as the Antelope Valley, which is expected to see lows under 20 degrees. But overall, Meier said, “things should improve.”
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