Icy Rose Bowl

Pasadena, California will be the site of tomorrow’s playoff matchup in the Rose Bowl between Florida State and Oregon. Fans were surprised to find rare snowfall and freezing temperatures in southern California this morning.

A vigorous cutoff low  is currently making a mess of things in the southwest as very cold temperatures accompanied the necessary uplift to produce rare snowfall in the lower elevations of southern California last night. Palm trees and snow just don’t mix…

As this cutoff low continues to drift east over the next day, wintry weather will impact Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and southern Texas. Check out the wide variety of winter weather advisories and warnings in effect within the southwest U.S.

Even though tonight will be dry in southern California, record cold temperatures will be possible. This will likely be the coldest night of the season in this region and if the low temperature reaches 32° in Pasadena, it will tie the daily low temperature record set in 1952. Elsewhere in southern California, a widespread freeze is expected to occur tonight.

Fans attending tomorrow’s Rose Bowl can expect another frosty morning to start the day. Temperatures will reach the lower 40s during tomorrow morning’s 126th Rose Bow Parade. Things look better by kickoff as high temperatures will make a nice rebound into the upper 50s by tomorrow afternoon under mostly clear skies and light winds. Evidence of last night’s snowfall will still be visible during the game as the mountains sitting behind the stadium will be snowcapped.