Cold Sweeps Through California Ahead of Next Storm System

Posted: March 26, 2023 1:21 pm

While it has been relatively dry when compared to the last several weeks, it has also been a chilly weekend across California. This chill in the air is raising concerns about the potential of a damaging freeze or frost to the state’s crops. The cold is the precursor to another round of moisture heading into the region by Tuesday.

Temperatures Below Freezing Impact Interior Portions of California

Temperatures dropped below freezing on both Saturday and Sunday morning in some areas of the state, potentially impacting the state’s vast agricultural interests. The interior valleys in the central and northern portions of California have been most vulnerable to crop damage as a result of the plummeting temperatures this weekend.

The cold is moving through in advance of another storm system predicted to start churning through the Golden State late Monday night and into Tuesday. The threats will hang around for a few days, bringing worries about flooding, heavy snow, and strong winds.

The mercury is forecast to fall below the freezing threshold in the northern half of the state through Sunday. While the coastal areas will remain warm, the interior portions of the state will see these unseasonably cold temperatures. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a number of freeze watches and warnings in addition to a few frost advisories. Be sure to heed these warnings if you have plants outside that may be vulnerable to the cold.

Vineyards at Risk of Damage

As one of the country’s most important agricultural regions, a late-season freeze or frost could impact the food supply on a large scale. In addition to the over 400 different crops grown throughout California, the wine industry is also at risk of seeing losses when the temperature dips too low at this point of the growing season.

The bulk of the state’s wine vineyards are located around the Bay Area and in the north-central portion of the San Fernando Valley. There are also a large number of vineyards located just inland from the coastal areas of the central portion of the state.

This is the time of the year when buds begin to make their first appearance. Temperatures throughout Wine Country have fallen into the upper 20s this weekend, putting these new buds at risk.

The good news for the wine industry is that the immense amounts of moisture this past winter has supported the growth and development of these vineyards heading into the dry season.

What is on Tap for This Week?

The start to the work week will be relatively calm in California. It will not be until late Monday that the next storm approaches the state. The northwestern corner of the state will see the first moisture coming onshore. However, it will not be until Tuesday that the storm’s impacts really ramp up.

Central California will be under the threat of heavy rain and flooding. The Sierra Nevada will once again be under the gun for heavy snow that threatens to close some of the most traveled passes in the region. Lastly, this latest weather maker will also usher in more damaging winds near the coastal areas.

The San Francisco area could see up to 2 inches of rain late Monday into early Tuesday, adding to the impressive rainfall amounts the city has already recorded this year. San Francisco International Airport has recorded 27.67 inches of rain since the start of December, translating to almost twice the normal amount during this time period.

The early week storm is also predicted to bring in winds that gust to 40 – 60 mph. The last storm that blew through downtown San Francisco shattered windows on a handful of skyscrapers as they approached the 80 mph mark.

The storm will push down the coast as the week progresses, eventually bringing rain to Los Angeles and San Diego late Tuesday and through Wednesday. The higher elevations around Los Angeles should also be prepared for snow and high winds. This could mean near-blizzard conditions for the Transverse mountain range.

Did you find this content useful? Feel free to bookmark or to post to your timeline for reference later.

Recent Posts