Southern California residents bundle up amid cold snap

Many Southland residents likely broke out their heavy sweaters and jackets on Tuesday, Jan. 9, as a cold snap continued to drive down temperatures to sub-freezing levels in some areas, with more cold and windy weather still to come.

Freeze warnings issued by the National Weather Service were in place overnight in the Santa Clarita Valley, Calabasas and the western San Fernando Valley, but they all expired at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

The temperature fell to the mid-20s in Lancaster and Palmdale, according to the NWS, while dipping into the low 30s in Woodland Hills and upper 30s in areas including Burbank, Northridge, Chatsworth, Van Nuys and Saugus. Most coastal areas experienced overnight temperatures in the mid-40s, with Los Angeles International Airport falling to 44 degrees.

The chilly conditions are expected to continue for a few more days.

“Windy, cool and mostly dry conditions are expected this week,” the NWS said, with temperatures below freezing and strong winds expected over the next couple of days. “Widely scattered light showers will affect the region late Wednesday into early Thursday, with a chance of light snow accumulations over the north slopes.”

Another freeze warning will be in effect between midnight and 10 a.m. Wednesday in Calabasas and Agoura Hills, where temperatures were expected to dip to at least 31 degrees, endangering sensitive crops and vegetation while also raising the risk of hypothermia for people and animals, forecasters said.

Winds are also expected to kick up in some areas. A wind advisory in the Antelope Valley was expected to continue through 4 p.m. Thursday, with gusts of up to 55 mph possible.

A more serious high wind watch will be in place Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon in the western Antelope Valley foothills, Catalina Island, the Malibu Coast and western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational area, where winds could gust to between 60 and 70 mph, forecasters said.

“Damaging winds could blow down large objects such as trees and power lines,” according to the NWS. “Power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles.”