Get ready for a chilly winter storm heading our way (thanks, Alaska!), promising snow at relatively low elevations.
Not in L.A., of course -- although it's not impossible. As you can see in the picture above (taken in 1957), snow has made it down to L.A. proper more than once. (And of course, if you count L.A. county as a whole, snow falls here every year in the higher elevations.)
Actually, we're long overdue for a dusting of the white stuff. According to the LA Almanac, we haven't seen a trace of snow in downtown L.A. since 1962. That followed a relatively busy decade, when snow was detected in L.A. in 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954 and 1957.
L.A.'s largest snowfall in the past century took place on January 10 and 11, 1949, when a bit more than 0.3 inches dusted the city.
As for Friday's storm... for us spoiled Southern Californians, it's not gonna be pleasant:
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch beginning tonight, warning of cold temperatures, wind gusts to 40 mph and significant precipitation, including snow possibly as low as the 1,500-foot level.
Rain and snow will make travel treacherous, officials said, especially along Interstate 5 from Castaic to Grapevine, as well as Interstate 15 through Soledad Canyon.
"People like to go to the mountains when there is snow, but they need to make sure that the roadways are clear and open and that they have chains if required," said California Highway Patrol Officer Humberto Jimenez.
The San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys will see daytime highs in the mid-50s, with nighttime lows near 40. The highs in the Antelope Valley will be around 50, with nighttime lows dipping to 30 tonight and Saturday and 28 on Sunday.
Rainfall from tonight through Sunday is expected to range from a half-inch to an inch across coastal and valley locations, with 2 inches in the foothills and mountains.
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