Projects Time for Winter Storage

I winterize my cars every winter, and because we start getting cold and rainy here in October, that's usually when I do it. I hate having to stop driving them then as I know regular use will be 6 months away, unless we happen to get a cold sunny day here or there. But my winterization isn't so much that I can't get them out easily if we do get a nice day here or there, so I do sometimes get lucky.

 

Fuel stabilizer, air up the tires, and disconnect the battery here, and put them in my quonset. Leave the hood up to discourage mice. This year I actually checked my antifreeze concentrations.

 

Hello,

It was the winter of 1949 in So Cal. The worst storm in So Cal history was recorded and we all were affected. Yes, it snowed in So Cal !!! From south San Diego up past Santa Barbara, the snow hit all over the vast So Cal coastline. Yes, coastline near and on the water lapping the shore. There are photos of everywhere in So Cal reporting the snow. Local papers had the photos to show the most unusual occurrence.

Having lived through its aftermath and remembering the refusing notion to go in our dad’s newly purchased 49 black Buick 4 door Roadmaster sedan for a trip to the store was memorable to say the least. Despite having a new car, he had to park it in the street in front of our old Craftsman house. He tried to squeeze the big Buick into one of the garage stalls in our back yard, but the Buick was too large to fit in the side opening doors and dinky space. Access was through an alley, but the alley was so narrow he could no get any angle to drive it into the narrow opening.

So, it was easier for him to park it out in front, where he parked his 41 Buick fastback sedan since 1947.

Jnaki

But, after the snowfall of 1949, it was a no-go for both my brother and me. The sedan was too cold to even touch the door handle, let alone get inside, all bundled up. So, our dad left on his own or heated it up for several long minutes to get it comfortable for the two brothers to tag along.

Since that time, we have enjoyed the snow in the mountains during our skiing season years. But, the cold winter surfing with wetsuits on was more enjoyable. So, a nice warm car in the garage was always the answer for us So Cal locals. Ha!

Here is a story about the winter of 1949 in So Cal. History in the making…

We used to go camping when our dad was able to take us to his favorite place in So Cal, Mammoth Mountain area and specifically, Lake Crowley, just off of highway 395. It was a place we liked and went there during the warm summer months. But, he used to go to Lake Crowley with his friends from the area and stay in a motel for several days in late April during opening day of allowed fishing season for Trout. Snow or no snow, that was not going to keep avid trout fishermen away.

So, if he were around, today, the last Saturday in April is going to be a freezing one if the current winter storm continues to drop its full force on the area. The Highway 395 is/was closed yesterday due to the powerful storm that is hitting the area now. The snow is piled high everywhere, the latest was a 2 foot storm drop and the winds make it almost zero visibility. (2023-24 the highway 395 was closed due to 12 foot high snowfall records being set all over the mountain range + deserts nearby.)

During our snow skiing time period in our So Cal area, we used to go to the local mountains. But, for the best skiing in So Cal, a road trip was necessary to the Mammoth Mountain area. Mammoth and June Mountain ski areas are/were some of the best ski runs in California. But, we never encountered such force of winter as having the Highway 395 closed.

Earlier in January 11, 1949, if we had lived in San Bernardino and the rest of that whole valley at the base of the local mountains, we would have gotten a lot of snow. (Remember, we are talking coastal highway homes, not mountain based or near So Cal mountains/tall hills, etc. which gets snow every year.) Last 2023 winter, Mammoth Mountain area on Highway 395 got snowed in with 12 feet of snow for months on end.
January 26, 1949
We can get snow here, though admittedly it’s not an every-decade occurrence. In fact, snow-wise, we’re in a nearly 75-year drought right now. But, we were not out of the woods, as yet.

Note:
It does and it did in 1932. But, of course, that was way before our time in So Cal. Our dad was around going to college and mentioned it once or twice…But for us, those days were like black holes…information in and gone in a second. Photo taken at UCLA in 1932…KCET

Previous post:
In looking back to all of those years when we would go up to the snowy local mountain areas after a coastal, So Cal winter rainfall, there is/was a question that lingers: Does it snow in the So Cal beach areas? Ever? Like on the Eastern Seaboard?

The West Coast of the California is relatively a warm desert climate most of the year from below the mid-valley areas. If it wasn’t for imported water from Arizona and Northern California, it would be almost like the Death Valley Area down in the Los Angeles to Orange County cities. So, the warm climate AND water make it a nice area to live and grow up. But, the stories continue with the question: Does it snow in coastal, So Cal?
Downtown Los Angeles
Our dad did see it snow in 1949 in Los Angeles. We were at home in Long Beach and it was cold with some white stuff floating around on the grass. But, it was not “snowed in” like the photos that follow.

Documented Snow Days In So Cal:
Irvine, CA 1949
“Early one January, in 1949, heavy snow blanketed Southern California, surprising locals with the strangest weather the area has ever faced. The snowfall began on the evening of January 10, after a long rain spell in the midst of a wave of bitter cold. Over the next two days, the temperature averaged between 20 to 25 degrees throughout Orange County.”

“An overall average of two inches of snow hit, with greater concentrations in the Santa Ana Mountains and other elevated areas. Silverado reported depths of snow reaching over six inches. Irvine Ranch reached four inches of snow as the flatter areas of Orange, Tustin and Irvine all reached three inches on January 11.”

Laguna Beach 1949
"This photo was taken by Marie Ayres of her new home at the intersection of San Remo Dr. and Temple Hills Dr. The date was Jan. 11, 1949. Marie built her home with her war widows pension and worked as the night auditor at the Hotel Laguna for some time. As her new home was above the highest water tank in town she would have to stop on her way home and turn on the pump to her house if she wanted to take a bath."

"She later married Tommy Ayres who owned the Chevy dealership in Laguna. For people who think this photo is a fake, notice Catalina in the background. The home is still there but no longer painted yellow."

“The hillsides of San Clemente, Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach were frosty white and local roads were closed due to slick roads and traffic accidents. Strangely enough, north OC beach communities, including Huntington Beach, reported warm coastal waters. Some locals flocked to the beach for a swim.”

“But for the children, it was like a second Christmas. Most public schools were closed. The snow melted away after January 13, as a sporadic rainfall brought things back to normal and the rare January Snowstorm of 1949 faded into memory.”

Note2:

There has to be something to be said about living in a Mediterranean climate. Warm, mild winters and some hot, but mostly mild weather all year around. Good enough for shorts and a T-Shirt while a sweatshirt hoodie can be used to keep the slight chill off as we visit the coastal areas. YRMV

So, in recent times, the last heavy “frozen ice” to So Cal coastal areas were the blasting we got in 2017.
Killjoy Monday morning climatologists calling it "pea hail" or some other snowlike precipitation, but not snow. In the heavy storms of 2023, it did hail several days, but as fast as it hit the ground, there was not enough to do anything with the pea size ice.

But, in January 23 2017 Snow in our backyard?

Sure glad we live in shorts and T-shirt climate, So Cal. Our extended family in the Midwest longs to be back in So Cal, just because of the weather. Even our freezer is not in the minus degree scenario ! Yikes…

Currently, it is a week of 60 degrees with some sporadic rains. So, break out the hooded sweatshirts and snow waterproof jackets for the "walking in the rain..." scenario, like walking to get the mail from the down the street mailbox. Whew!

 

That's one hell of a collection,Mr.Moriarity!!

 

Took the trusty daily driver deuce pickup to the car wash and got most of the summer bugs off, cleaned what there is of an interior, Filled it with alcohol free high test and parked it for the winter. Big changes coming tomorrow. Was a good summer, drove it over 10K and never went anywhere except the ROC.