Severe cold winter storms greet California on New Year's eve. Many motorists were trapped due to the snow and a few people have also died in the aftermath of the adverse weather conditions in California.
On Tuesday, Dec. 30, health officials released a weather warning for people staying in certain parts of California as cold storms were expected to hit in the next few days, bringing along snow and rain.
A strong winter storm has spread snow in many parts of California, which has also forced residents to experience a frosty and cold New Year's eve.
The winter storm has also resulted in the death of at least five people in California. Two people died in Paradise, a town in the northwest foothills of California's Central Valley, after severe weather toppled trees. One woman died in the city of Redding located in Northern California due to the unexpected falling of a tree; a child was also injured in the incident.
Two people were also reported to have died after storm winds ripped off boats from their moorings at Santa Catalina Island in Southern California. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) said that strong winds traveling at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour hit the harbor. One more person was reported missing in the region.
Daryl Osby, Los Angeles County Fire Chief, said that one of the persons who died in the harbor was a patrol officer, while the other person is yet to be identified.
"Children, the elderly and people with disabilities or special medical needs are especially vulnerable during such cold snaps. Extra precaution should be taken to ensure they don't get too cold when they are outside," said Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, interim health officer at Los Angeles County.
Around 200 motorists were stranded by snow that hit mountain highways near Los Angeles. Firefighters rescued all the stranded motorists.
People who planned to watch the Rose Parade in Pasadena, Calif. came across freezing temperatures. City officials have asked parade-goers to come prepared for severe temperatures.
Even though severe storm affected many regions of California, citrus growers did not feel the extreme wrath of the winter storm. Only a few areas required protection against frost. About 75 percent of the crop is still unaffected and will be harvested soon.
California is one of the worst affected regions in western U.S. but other states such as Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma have also been hit hard by the cold storms.
