A man described as a transient was found dead Monday on a sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles, where the temperature fell to 34 degrees Fahrenheit, a record low for Jan. 14, as the region remained in the grips of a cold snap.
The body of the man, who apparently was in his late 50s, was discovered at about 6:40 a.m. in the 300 block of West First Street, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported. His name was not immediately released.
The man may have been beneath blankets or in a sleeping bag, according to the department. The preliminary investigation indicated that the cause of death was from natural causes, police said.
According to the National Weather Service, Monday morning's 34 degrees reading broke the record low of 36 set in downtown L.A. on Jan. 14, 2007. Monday's low was also the coldest temperature in downtown Los Angeles since the 34 degrees recorded on Dec. 23, 1990, 22 years ago.
Amid sunny skies and strong winds, temperatures were forecast to remain low today—in the 30s in the San Gabriel Mountains, the 40s in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, and the 50s most everywhere else in the Greater L.A. area.
A wind advisory will be in effect until 3 a.m. Tuesday along the coast, in downtown L.A., and in the Hollywood Hills, and until noon Tuesday in the San Fernando Valley.
A more serious high wind warning, indicating gusts of at least 58 miles per hour, will be in place until 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon in the San Gabriel mountains, the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, the Santa Clarita Valley and the Orange County coastal plain.
Several freeze warnings and frost advisories were in effect until 9 a.m. Monday, and more such warnings were expected Monday night. Highs Monday were forecast to be 53 in Woodland Hills, Burbank, San Gabriel, Newport Beach and Anaheim; 54 in Pasadena; 55 in Avalon; 56 in downtown L.A. and at LAX; and 57 in Long Beach.
Highs will be between five and eight degrees higher Tuesday, depending on locations, and will rise some more on Wednesday. By Thursday, highs will be back in the 70s in many areas of Los Angeles County.
