There’s a 100 percent chance of rain in Southern California Friday night with cold temperatures, dangerous winds and snow dropping to lower elevations in the mountains.
Driving will be dangerous as roads were expected to be crowded with rush-hour traffic mixing with holiday travelers on wet roads.
With chilly temperatures making it feel a lot like Christmas, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Friday issued a Cold Weather Alert, urging people to take extra precautions to brace against the weather.
The alert took immediate effect and will last through Tuesday in the Antelope Valley and Los Angeles County mountains. The alert will be in effect from Saturday through Tuesday in the Santa Clarita Valley, and from Sunday through Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley and Pomona areas.
“Children, the elderly and people with disabilities and special medical needs are especially vulnerable during such cold snaps,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, the county’s interim health officer. “Extra precautions should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside. There are places where people can go to stay warm, such as shelters or other public facilities. We also want to remind people not to use stoves, barbecues or ovens to heat their homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.”
Information about available shelters and details on emergency preparedness are available by calling the county’s information line at 211.
—City News Service