After weeks of above-normal spring-like weather, the region is now being hit with subfreezing temperatures. The overnight low in Sacramento tonight is expected to be 28 degrees, which would break the record of 31 for the date.
"We have a very cold system that dropped down from Western Canada," says Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
Kurth says this is not typical winter weather for the region:
"Oh no, this is certainly an unusually cold system. We usually don't get air coming quite from that area. A lot of the time we get cool systems from the Gulf of Alaska, which are cool. But to get this cold continental air is unusual."
With the exception of the coast, most of #NorCal will likely see freezing temperatures during at least one of the next few nights. Take the necessary precautions to protect your pets and plants! #cawx pic.twitter.com/SmclzuKwD5
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) February 18, 2018
When it gets this cold people are urged to check on the elderly, bring in outdoor pets, and cover up or bring in any sensitive plants.
"Some other issues, especially when it's getting down into the 20s, external pipes can be vulnerable to freezing and damage," says Kurth. "So people might want to consider wrapping them up with tape or cloth or some type of insulating material."
A Freeze Warning for the Sacramento region is in effect until 8 a.m. Wednesday. But Kurth says we'll continue to see overnight lows in the 30s and daytime highs in the 50s.
"There's no real clear warm up coming for us. So people should just generally be prepared this week and even into the weekend for additional freezing temperatures."
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