The NWS chat channel has been up in another browser window most of the past two days. It’s a meeting place for media, emergency managers and NWS forecasters. All the chatter has been winter related.
Finally after a year and a half, SoCal winter has found the Foxes.
The main player is a storm from the north which managed to stay inland and stay cold. It doesn’t happen often.
Indio, at the far end of the Coachella Valley, only got to 53 today. Every other December 31 on record was warmer by at least two degrees and the record goes back to 1894!
We’re about as far south as Charleston, SC. Snow fell at an altitude of 1350 feet above sea level.
Hundreds of cars were stranded in dozens of spots. Parts of I-10 and I-15 were snowcovered. Driving in snow is much different here where slopes are steep and long. Chains are required.
My cousin, Melissa told Helaine this was the coldest she could remember. The wind was probably her deciding factor. We had gusts in the mid 30s overnight. Trash cans were flying. Some mountaintops and passes went over 60 mph.
The Sun was out this morning. I looked toward Santiago Peak, around dozen miles from here, and saw white!
“Be right back,” I told Helaine, then hopped in the car to take the two shots above.
By early next week we’ll be back in the mid 70s. It’s winter in SoCal.