When you think of Los Angeles, you probably picture palm trees, surfers at El Porto, and that hazy, golden-hour heat that makes everything look like a vintage postcard. You definitely don’t think of parkas. But honestly, the city has a weird, icy secret in its history books. Most people assume the "coldest" it gets is maybe 50 degrees, yet the lowest temperature recorded in Los Angeles is actually way lower than most locals realize.
It’s 28 degrees.
Seriously. On January 4, 1949, and again a few days later, downtown LA hit a bone-chilling 28°F. For a city built on the promise of perpetual summer, that’s basically an arctic tundra. It wasn't just a quick dip in temperature, either; it was part of a freak weather event that literally changed the way the city looked for a few days.
The 1949 freeze and the great "Snowstorm"
You’ve gotta imagine the scene. It’s January 1949. Los Angeles is booming after the war. Suddenly, a massive cold front from Canada decides to take a vacation in Southern California. On January 10th and 11th, it didn't just get cold—it snowed. Not just "a few flakes in the mountains" snow, but actual, measurable snow in the middle of the city.
People were building snowmen in Hollywood. There are photos in the Los Angeles Times archives of palm trees in Santa Monica covered in white powder. It was beautiful, sure, but it was also a mess. The Pacific Coast Highway had to close because of ice. Can you imagine ice on the PCH? It’s surreal.
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The thermometer at the official downtown weather station dropped to that record-breaking 28°F. That 28-degree mark is the gold standard for cold in the city proper.
Why downtown isn't the whole story
If you talk to someone in the San Fernando Valley or out toward Lancaster, they’ll laugh at that 28-degree record. Los Angeles is huge, and its geography is basically a collection of "microclimates." While downtown was shivering at 28°F, other parts of the county were getting absolutely hammered.
Take Lancaster, for example. On December 23, 1984, the temperature there plummeted to a terrifying 2°F. Even the more "suburban" areas have seen deeper freezes than the city center:
- Burbank has bottomed out at 22°F.
- Long Beach hit 25°F back in 1963.
- LAX (which usually stays warmer because of the ocean) actually hit 23°F in 1937.
The reason downtown stays a bit "warmer" (if you can call 28 degrees warm) is largely due to the Urban Heat Island effect. All that concrete and all those buildings soak up the sun during the day and radiate heat at night. Back in 1949, there was less concrete, which is probably why that record hasn't been broken since.
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The citrus disaster of 1937
Before LA was a tech and entertainment hub, it was an agricultural powerhouse. Specifically, oranges. In late January 1937, a massive frost hit the region. This wasn't just a "wear a sweater" kind of cold; it was an economic catastrophe.
The temperature dropped to 30°F in many areas, including the citrus groves that used to cover places like Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley. Farmers scrambled. They used things called "smudge pots"—basically small oil-burning heaters—to try and keep the air warm enough so the fruit wouldn't freeze and explode.
It didn't work well enough. Millions of dollars (in 1930s money!) were lost. When the lowest temperature recorded in Los Angeles or its surrounding areas hits those levels, it’s more than just a novelty; it’s a threat to the way people live.
Can it happen again?
Meteorologists like those at the National Weather Service in Oxnard keep a close eye on these things. Honestly, it’s getting harder and harder to hit those record lows. Between 1877 and today, we’ve seen the city get significantly warmer.
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The last time downtown LA even dipped below freezing (32°F) was way back in 1979. Since then, we’ve had some chilly nights, but nothing that truly threatens the 28-degree throne. You’ve probably noticed that our "winters" lately feel more like a mild spring.
That doesn't mean we are totally safe from freak events. In February 2019, it actually snowed in some of the lower-elevation hills like Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. It was a reminder that the atmosphere can still throw a curveball when the right moisture meets a rare pocket of cold air.
How to handle an LA "Cold Snap"
Look, we’re spoiled. When it hits 45 degrees, we act like the world is ending. But if you’re a gardener or a homeowner, there are actual things to do when the temperature starts creeping toward that historic low:
- Cover your succulents. Most of the plants we love in LA are tropical. If it dips below 35°F, they’ll turn to mush. Use a frost cloth, not plastic.
- Check your pipes. We don't bury our water lines deep like they do in Chicago. If a freak 25-degree night happens, exposed pipes can crack.
- Watch the pets. If it’s too cold for you in a light jacket, it’s too cold for the dog to be outside all night.
Understanding the lowest temperature recorded in Los Angeles helps put our current weather in perspective. We live in a Mediterranean paradise, but every once in a long while, the Arctic decides to pay a visit.
Keep a jacket in the trunk. You probably won't need it for a 28-degree night anytime soon, but in LA, you never really know.
Next Steps for You:
If you're worried about your garden during the next cold front, check the "Hardiness Zone" for your specific zip code. Most of LA is in Zone 10 or 11, but the hills can drop into Zone 9, which means you'll need different plants to survive a surprise freeze.