A particularly strong cold front brought some unusual weather and near-historic temperatures to Southern California during the last week of December 2014. Mountainous areas, including foothill regions as low as 1400 feet in elevation, experienced anywhere from light to heavy snow, and icy conditions prevailed on roads, stranding hundreds of drivers.
Snow and palm trees, Lake Elsinore
The storm battered Santa Catalina Island, pushing boats ashore and causing the deaths of two men. In Pasadena, a "freak wind" outside the Rose Bowl swept through like a dust devil, injuring four and sweeping canopies into the air. Temperatures reached near-record levels early morning before the Rose Parade, with the official overnight reading 33 degrees Fahrenheit, one degree above the record Rose Parade temperature set in 1952.
Boats ashore, Avalon harbor
"By Sunday, Los Angeles should return to its more familiar winter temperatures of about 72 degrees."
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0101-weather-snow-20150101-story.html#page=1