Posted January 14, 2007, 9:16 AM.

Many station records had recorded their coldest temperature last December 19th or December 20th, only to be obliterated by this cold wave. Most stations have been operational only since 2004 or 2005, except for Temecula, Murrieta and Hemet.

The low of 20.1°F in Sun City is now the coldest temperature recorded at a WeatherCurrents station. The old record in the Menifee Valley was 26.4°F, on November 20, 2004. Sun City was under 30°F before midnight, and stayed there until just before 9am.

The previous lowest temperature recorded at a WeatherCurrents station was 25.4°F, on January 31, 2002, in Temecula. At that time, only the Temecula weather station was operating.

Temecula's 22.9°F was the coldest on record since operations began in August, 1999. The temperature dipped under 30°F shortly after 12am and stayed there into the 9am hour.

The low in Murrieta was 24.5°F, eclipsing the prior record of 27.9°F set last December 19th.

In the Valle Vista area of Hemet it was 27.1°F, also a record minimum. Most of the San Jacinto Valley was likely colder.

Lake Elsinore's low of 23.0°F was several degrees colder than the prior record of 29.2°F from December 20th.

De Luz's 31.3°F represented the first freezing temperatures recorded since that station began operating last year. The previous low was 37.3° on December 20, 2006.

Likewise, Fallbrook's 31.5°F was the coldest since that location went live in June, 2004, and the first freezing temperatures recorded at that location. The previous minimum was 38.1°F on December 19, 2006.

In Canyon Crest, in Riverside, it was 28.3°F in a traditionally mild area, also a record.

The freezing temperatures probably damaged many freeze-sensitive plants across Riverside and San Diego counties. More freezing temperatures were predicted for Sunday night and Monday morning as the deep freeze continues.

It may have been as many as two decades since temperatures fell this far in the area. James Sappington of Temecula recalled single digit temperatures in the winter of 1987, when he lived in the Rainbow Canyon Villages area. "I believe that area is the coldest in Temecula," he said. The overnight low at his current home in the Temecula Valley was 23.2°F.

For an up-to-date roundup of local temperatures, see the local roundup.

De Luz

Temecula