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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A cold front approaching the Southland today will bring gusty winds and some rain, along with freezing temperatures in the Antelope Valley, National Weather Service forecasters said.
The pattern is typical for this time of the year, said NWS meteorologist Rich Thompson, adding that today's temperatures will be 3-5 degrees below normal.
``A cold air mass will settle into the interior valleys and wind- sheltered areas on Monday night, bringing the possibility of frost or freezing overnight temperatures,'' according to an NWS statement.
In the meantime, gusty winds are expected, along with showers, with the chance of measurable precipitation in Los Angeles and Orange counties set at 40 percent, according to the NWS.
In the Antelope Valley and San Gabriel Mountains , southwest winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour were clocked this morning, accompanied by 45- mph gusts. The winds shifted to the west late this morning, according to NWS statement.
Antelope Valley temperatures will likely fall to between 25 and 29 degrees for two or more hours late tonight and early Tuesday morning.
The NWS warned that a ``hard freeze can burst exposed pipes and kill crops or sensitive vegetation. Extended exposure to cold can cause hypothermia, including to outdoor pets and livestock. Gusty winds will make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles. Areas of blowing dust can suddenly and dangerously reduce visibility to near zero.''
A wind advisory indicating winds or gusts of 35 mph in the Antelope Valley was posted from 4 this morning until 4 this afternoon. In the San Gabriel Mountains, the wind advisory will be in effect until 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Additionally, a hard freeze watch signaling temperatures of 28 degrees or less for at least two straight hours will be in force in the Antelope Valley from late tonight through Tuesday morning, according to the NWS.
``Protective measures to save to save outdoor plants may be needed,'' according to the weather service. ``Vulnerable animals and pets should be kept indoors in a house or barn. Exposed pipes should be wrapped to keep them from bursting.''
Temperatures, meanwhile, will generally be in the low 70s or below today in L.A. and Orange counties.
On Sunday, a daily high record for the date was set in Lancaster, where the mercury reached 86, breaking the record of 80 set in 1977. In Sandberg, Sunday's high of 76 broke the record of 73 set in 2014.
The NWS forecast mostly cloudy skies in L.A. County today, along with highs of 58 on Mount Wilson; 61 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 64 in Saugus; 66 in Avalon; 67 in Downtown L.A. and Burbank; and 68 in Long Beach, Pasadena, San Gabriel, Woodland Hills and at LAX.
Partly cloudy skies were forecast in Orange County, with highs of 63 in San Clemente; 64 in Laguna Beach; 65 in Newport Beach and Mission Viejo; 67 in Irvine and Yorba Linda; 68 in Anaheim; and 69 in Fullerton.
Temperatures will rise to the mid and high 70s this week before falling back Saturday. By Sunday, they'll be roughly the same as today.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a cold weather alert, effective Tuesday in the county's mountains, and effective from Tuesday through Thursday in the Antelope Valley.
Health officials warned people not to use stoves, barbecues or ovens to heat their homes due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, and urged people to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include shortness of breath, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and nausea. Those suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning should be taken outside, into fresh air immediately, and should be taken to an emergency room for immediate medical treatment.