Record cold blows into Southern California

LOS ANGELES - A dusting of snow fell in Southern California's mountains Friday as record low temperatures sent shivers through residents.

The National Weather Service issued a freeze warning for Cuyama Valley and the interior valleys of San Luis Obispo County through Saturday morning. Residents were told to expect temperatures in the upper 20s and low 30s and prepare to protect their plants.

Record temperature were recorded early Friday on 5,710-foot Mount Wilson northeast of Los Angeles, where a low of 26 degrees beat the date's previous record of 29 set in 1964, and in Cuyama, where the low of 26 beat the record of 27 set in 1985.

Flurries dropped more than 3 inches of snow at ski areas near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains and more was on the way, resorts reported. The cold also allowed ski resorts to manufacture fake snow during the night.

National Weather Service forecaster Curt Kaplan attributed the chilly temperatures to a deep low pressure system moving in from the Eastern Pacific, bringing cold air with it.