Monterey County, CA – Temperatures will plunge to 24 degrees by daybreak Wednesday, putting crops, livestock and vulnerable residents at risk across interior Central California beginning at midnight tonight.
According to the National Weather Service in San Francisco, an Extreme Cold Warning takes effect at midnight tonight and remains in place until 9 a.m. Wednesday for the Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, interior Monterey County, most of San Benito County and the Cholame Hills in southeast Monterey County. Forecasters expect widespread sub-freezing temperatures, with the coldest valleys and higher elevations dipping into the mid-20s.
The freeze will stretch from Pinnacles National Park through the Santa Lucia Range, impacting rural communities and agricultural zones where unprotected crops could suffer damage. Unhoused individuals face heightened risk of hypothermia during the pre-dawn hours Wednesday, especially in wind-sheltered valleys where cold air settles.
Residents should avoid using generators or grills indoors and ensure portable heaters function safely to reduce fire and carbon monoxide risks. Officials urge frequent checks on older neighbors and family members. Farmers and ranchers should cover sensitive plants and ensure animals have unfrozen water and adequate shelter.
Conditions improve after 9 a.m. Wednesday as temperatures climb above freezing, but additional advisories could follow if clear skies persist into midweek.
