A cold front lingering in Southern California has brought freezing temps to parts of San Diego County this week – just a couple of days after locals basked in summer-like weather.
“We’re going to have some cold temperatures overnight and into the morning for the next couple of days here,” NBC 7 meteorologist Sheena Parveen explained. “As we head into the Monday evening hours, temperatures will quickly drop, and by early tomorrow some areas inland could be near freezing.”
The National Weather Service issued a freeze watch heading into Monday night. That watch was upgraded to a warning, in effect through 9 a.m. Tuesday in San Diego County valleys.
The set-up repeated overnight Tuesday when a freeze warning went back into effect. That warning lasts from 10 p.m. Tuesday until 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Temperatures plummeted into the 20s and 30s overnight Tuesday. The NWS said readings in the 30s near the San Diego International Airport were the lowest they have been in more than seven years.
"The temperature at San Diego International Airport has fallen to 39 so far (as of 4 AM) with the current record for the date of 38 in 1894," the weather agency tweeted.
Readings in Ramona showed temperatures at 20 degrees before 4 a.m. That's a new record for the city, which previously saw a record low of 23 degrees in 2002.
The frosty weather could kill crops and plants, so the NWS said it’s best to cover sensitive plants overnight. Locals should also bring their pets indoors during the chilly event.
Local
Ted Schoenherr, a 25-year employee at Walter Andersen Nursery, said plants can be covered by insulated blankets, or at worst an old sheet, and can be grouped together. He also stressed the importance of keeping plants hydrated but noted it's important to water the soil and not the leaves.
"That condensation can freeze and cause more damage than not doing anything at all," he said.
Father Joe's Villages said it was planning to open up more space to help more San Diegans without a warm place to sleep.
Parveen said she expects it to warm up a bit by the weekend.
