A strange sight: Storm brings snow to SoCal beach 

The winter storm that hit California on Monday brought an unusual sight to beachgoers: snow and ice. 

A storm system that hit Southern California on Monday brought scattered shoes to the area and a layer of snow. However, it also brought snow to some unusual places, such as Huntington Beach. 

While the accumulation wasn’t significant compared to other cities in northern California or the East coast, it was enough for a beach city that has not seen winter conditions like Monday's since 2015. 

For local resident Drew Balmer, who was headed up to the mountains with his snowboard, it was a happy sight, according to ABC 7 Eyewitness News.  

"On the way up here I stopped to get gas at a gas station and there was snow all around," Balmer said. "It started to rain after that so it started to melt. But there were patches all over the place. I'd never seen anything like it."

The storm also brought cool, dry conditions to the area, which are expected to last for the remainder of this week. According to National Weather Service meteorologist Stefanie Sullivan, temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-50s along the coast and the 30s and 40s in the mountains. In Orange County, temperatures could dip to the low 40’s throughout Friday. 

Several San Bernadino and Riverside county cities were placed under a frost advisory as scattered storms will continue in the low temperatures. 

Health officials are warning Southern California residents about the increased risk of cold-related illnesses such as hypothermia, as the region continues to see below-average temperatures. 

“When prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures occurs, it is important to make certain that you are protected from hypothermia,” Orange County Health Officer Dr. Regina Chinsio-Kwong said in a statement. “In addition, it is critical to check that seniors who live alone, your neighbors, pets, and vulnerable populations are safe during this time.”