Southern California shivers in bitter cold

(CNN) -

Residents of large swaths of central and Southern California and Arizona shivered Saturday as plummeting temperatures prompted freeze warnings.

The Los Angeles metropolitan area felt the chill, with an overnight low in Hollywood expected to dip down to 38. Lows near Stockton, in central California, were expected to be about 23 degrees.

That cold front was marching slowly eastward, where highs in the District of Columbia will drop from 62 on Sunday to 43 on Tuesday.

The weird weekend weather had temperatures 30 degrees below normal in parts of the West, and 30 degrees above normal in the East, said CNN meteorologist Jenny Harrison.

The advancing cold front was bringing heavy rain from the Deep South to the Ohio Valley, the National Weather Service said.

Strong winds and a possible tornado damaged two churches in Livingston County on Saturday afternoon, according to Kentucky emergency management officials. No injuries were immediately reported.

According to CNN affiliate KCAL, freeze warnings were expected to be in effect through 9 a.m. Sunday for most of Southern California, with a freeze watch posted for Sunday night through Monday morning.

A freeze warning will remain in effect in Phoenix, Arizona, until Tuesday morning.

The Phoenix Rescue Mission reached out to those who were spending the night outdoors by providing blankets and clothing items.

"As the cold weather takes effect on people and they're out there in the elements, we want to remind them that we bring a team of people who actually care about them," the organization's Clifford Danley told CNN affiliate KTVK.

Arizona citrus growers scrambled to protect their trees.

One grower deployed circulating water to produce heat and smudge pots. "You work for 360 days and these five days can wipe you out," said John Babiarz of Greenfield Citrus Nursery in Mesa.

KOLD, an appropriately named CNN affiliate in Tucson, said temperatures on landmark Mount Lemmon dropped into single digits early Saturday. Overnight freezing temperatures will continue through Tuesday.

A family's effort to help warm up cold cats backfired Saturday morning, according to Tucson affiliate KGUN.

Fire officials said homeowners set up a heat lamp and blankets on their back patio.

Apparently, the lamp fell onto the blankets. The ensuring fired caused an estimated $15,000 in damage to the home.

Source: http://www.kjct8.com/news/Southern-California-shivers-in-bitter-cold/-/163152/18110872/-/48gbui/-/index.html

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