Same Cold Weather Rings In New Year

As the coldest December in nearly a decade drew to a close on Thursday with thousands of Rose Parade fans huddled against the chill, more of the same was predicted for the New Year’s weekend.

The mercury was expected to dip into the high 30s over New Year’s Eve for the second straight night, and the high for today is forecast to top off at only 60 degrees under variable high clouds.

The good news is that forecasters do not expect it to rain on anybody’s parade. Temperatures are expected to hover in the 40s at the start of the Rose Parade at 8:20 a.m. and should reach the 50s for the Rose Bowl match between USC and Michigan State at 2:00 p.m.

Thousands of people were already jamming the sidewalks on the Pasadena parade route Thursday night, despite the cold temperatures. Officials said that their numbers would swell to a million by starting time.

While paradegoers were shivering, skiers were taking advantage of the chilly New Year’s weekend. The mountain-area forecast called for a high in the low 30s to 40s and a low in the teens, with northeast winds of 35 m.p.h. Christopher Edwards, an avid skier who lives near Mammoth, said conditions are “delightful,” although a lot of homeowners are experiencing problems with frozen pipes. Temperatures reached zero in Mammoth on Wednesday and were expected to warm only slightly for New Year’s Day.

Mary Shoshone, of the Mammoth-June Ski Resort, said the slopes are in excellent shape, with more than five feet of snow on the ground. “Every lift is in full operation,” Shoshone said.

Worst Since ’78

Mike McKinley of the National Weather Service said the cold snap that gripped Southern California for much of December was the worst since 1978. But with an average temperature of 55.4 degrees, it was far less frigid than the record-setting month of January, 1949, when the average temperature was 46.8 degrees. Forecasters said a dip in the jet stream caused the cold weather and could cause temperatures to remain chilly throughout the winter season. Rainfall may also increase.

“The jet stream that usually marks the edge of polar air has been virtually over Los Angeles in recent weeks,” said Mike Smith of WeatherData Inc., a consulting firm that provides forecasts for The Times. “That’s what has allowed this colder air to come south.”

As temperatures dropped, Southern Californians’ demand for heat increased. Dick Friend of the Southern California Gas Co. said fuel consumption for the last month doubled that in December, 1986.

Henry Mally of California Firewood in Sun Valley said firewood consumption is also running far above average, with more than 800 cords already sold. “It’s colder than hell,” Mally said. “So business has been up substantially. We’ve had more deliveries, more yard sales, more everything. And we may sell out.”

Emergency Shelter Service

The ongoing cold weather has forced a continuation of emergency shelter services for the homeless. Bob Vilmur of the city’s community development department said shelters in Elysian Park, Pacoima, Venice and Wilmington will remain open through Sunday. City and county officials were also expected to continue distribution of hundreds of hotel vouchers.

Smith forecast a slight warming trend for the weekend, with temperatures in Los Angeles reaching the mid-60s by Saturday or Sunday. The forecast for the rest of Southern California calls for high cloudiness with gusty winds of up to 25 m.p.h. below the canyons and lows in the 30s to 40s and highs in the 50s to 60s.

In the Owens Valley, residents can expect variable high cloudiness with lows in the lower teens and highs in the 30s to 40s.

Antelope Valley, Death Valley and the Mojave Desert will have variable high cloudiness with lows in the mid-20s to lower 30s and highs ranging from the mid-40s to lower 50s.