Cold weather to ring in the New Year in SoCal

PASADENA, California (FOX 11) - It was midday Monday when Christine Yuhas from Vegas was soaking up the Pasadena sun in a sleeveless gray T-shirt, but that won't last long.

Forecasters predicted it to be one of the older New Year's Eve nights and New Year's Day parade mornings in recent years with 41 degrees as a low -- a temperature not that chilly for someone colder areas of the country.

However, if you're used to being in the jacuzzi in Southern California in the winter, it's newsworthy.

Many people along the parade route Monday spoke to FOX 11 about their overnight preparations, most of which included blankets, sweaters, sleeping bags, RV's, propane heaters and barbecues.

Open bonfire-type warming efforts were not allowed.

It's interesting to note, while most of the stories about the massive New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square in New York City focus on the massive security efforts, it was all about the weather in Southern California. The police, however, were definitely there too.

The forecast called for clear skies Monday night with lows in the upper 30s to mid 40s for most of Southern California. Between Malibu and the Hollywood Hills, 15 to 25 mile per hour wind with gusts up to 40 miles per hour were expected.

Parade-goers were advised to be prepared for cold weather and dress in layers.

On New Year's Day, sunny skies and highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s were forecast.