2014 to End With Cold Blast Out of Canada, Record Lows Possible for Rose Parade

New Year's Eve will bring some of the coldest air of the year to Southern California as Rose Parade participants prepare to bundle up for a possible record low

The year will end with a cold snap from a winter storm that is bringing wind, snow and possibly record low temperatures during the annual Rose Parade.

The cold storm moving out of Canada dropped snow Tuesday evening in the Antelope Valley and at low elevations in the San Gabriel Mountains. Snow levels were expected to start at 4,000 feet as winds pick up in to the afternoon.

The heaviest accumulation — between 2 and 4 inches — will be over the north-facing slopes of the eastern San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles. Snowfall will taper off Wednesday morning before a cold but dry New Year's Day on Thursday.

"Tomorrow, into Thursday, that's the coldest air of the season," said NBC4 forecaster Crystal Egger. "Clouds will be building through (Tuesday). We'll eventually see some light isolated rain and snow for the mountains."

Participants and spectators at the New Year's Day Rose Parade will face possible record low temperatures in Pasadena. The record low for the San Gabriel Valley community is 32 degrees, set in 1952. The average high temperature for Jan. 1 is 47.

The parade has never been canceled due to a storm, but a 1934 storm brought more than 6 inches of rain to Pasadena on New Year's Day and caused flooding in foothills.

A winter weather advisory was expected to continue into Wednesday morning in the Antelope Valley. In San Gabriel Mountain communities, the advisory was expected to be in effect through 4 a.m. Wednesday.

"For those attending the Rose Parade in Pasadena, they can expect temperatures near to slightly below freezing by sunrise. Subfreezing temperatures are possible in the same areas Friday morning as well," an NWS statement said.

The storm also produced powerful winds up to 25 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph in the Antelope Valley and between 25 and 40 mph with 60-mph gusts in the San Gabriels, forecasters said.

"The combination of snow and wind will lead to very hazardous conditions for anyone venturing outside," warned the National Weather Service statement. "Roads will be icy, and road closures are a strong possibility."

In Orange County, a wind advisory will be in effect until Wednesday afternoon. Winds of between 20 and 30 mph, with 50-mph gusts, were expected, forecasters said.

Little precipitation is expected outside the Antelope Valley and the San Gabriels, forecasters said. A tenth of an inch of rain could fall in valley areas outside the Antelope Valley.

Based on the forecast of snow and icy road conditions, LA County Public Works is closing public access to several road segments in the Angeles National Forest, effective Tuesday at 10 a.m. 

They are the Angeles Forest Highway between Aliso Canyon Road and Angeles Crest Highway,  Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road between Angeles Forest Highway and SR-2  and Big Tujunga Canyon Road between Vogel Flats Road and Angeles Forest Highway.

Local access will not be permitted until the road closures are lifted, and the closures will remain in effect until the storm system has passed and the roads have been inspected and cleared. 

Meanwhile, the California Department of Transportation’s District 8 is preparing roads in their area for the cold storm that is coming in.

Teams are putting a de-icing agent down in the Cajon Pass Tuesday morning. The material is placed over parts of the freeway lanes, then cars move through the area distribute it all over the road surface.

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