Cold weather warning issued for parts of LA, but Christmas will be warm and dry

With wind chill temperatures expected to fall below 32 degrees, Los Angeles health officials issued a cold-weather alert Saturday, warning residents to pack up, check on loved ones and bring pets. Cool conditions will ease across the region by midweek, with a warming trend pushing temperatures well above average over Christmas weekend.

The National Weather Service is forecasting freezing temperatures for Lancaster from tonight, with particularly cold conditions expected for Mt Wilson and the Santa Clara Valley on Monday.

“Children, the elderly, and those with disabilities or special medical needs are particularly at risk in cold weather,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County Health Officer, in a statement. “Extra precautions should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when outside.”

“There are places where people can keep warm, such as emergency shelters or other public facilities. We also want to remind people not to use stoves, grills or stoves to heat their homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include shortness of breath, headache, muscle and joint pain, and nausea. Exposure to high levels of the odorless gas can be fatal within minutes.

The LA County Department of Health urged residents to check on family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly, the sick or those with limited mobility, and those with inadequate heating. Pets should be brought indoors overnight, county officials warned. Anyone venturing outside in chilly weather is encouraged to dress in layers and protect their head, hands and feet from the cold.

For those who need a warm and dry place to stay, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority offers a winter protection program. Locations and transportation information are available online at www.lahsa.org or by calling the LA County Information Line at 211.

“It’s been a pretty cold week for Los Angeles County,” said National Weather Service meteorologist David Gomberg.

Most valley areas can expect night time temperatures in the mid 30’s to low 40’s, while LA’s metro areas hover in the 45’s. Daytime temperatures in those areas on Sunday and Monday will be fairly normal for this time of year, Gomberg said in the 60s. Next weekend, he said, Christmas will bring a warming trend with temperatures in the mid to high 70s.

“Typically, our averages are lower until the mid-60s,” Gomberg said. “We could also see temperatures 10 degrees above normal and fairly dry conditions.”