Eureka CA Headed for Record Cold - Ice Age?

This is an update to my earlier post on Eureka, California, experiencing a rapid cooling such that an Ice Age (locally) is imminent. Looks like I was wrong. They aren't supposed to have a hard freeze until 2030, or thereabouts. Yet the National Weather Service has issued the alert for Eureka for tonight, calling for a hard freeze in the 20's F. That's approximately 20 years ahead of schedule.

The text of the NWS announcement follows:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EUREKA CA

 330 PM PST SAT FEB 26 2011  

...RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES EXPECTED THIS MORNING...  

.CLEAR SKIES AND CALM CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH A VERY COLD AIR MASS FROM CANADA 

WILL BRING RECORD COLD TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA TOMORROW MORNING.  

CAZ001-002-271230- /O.NEW.KEKA.HZ.W.0003.110227T0800Z-110227T1800Z/ 

REDWOOD COAST-MENDOCINO COAST- 330 PM PST SAT FEB 26 2011  

...HARD FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY...  

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EUREKA HAS ISSUED A HARD FREEZE WARNING...

WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 10 AM PST SUNDAY.  

* EARLY MORNING TEMPERATURES WILL DIP INTO MID TO UPPER 20S BEFORE   

SUNRISE SUNDAY MORNING.

It would be prudent for the local government to assess their preparedness for prolonged periods of ice and snow. Do they have on hand sufficient snow plows? Large dump trucks with appropriate tires to spread "grit" to improve motorists' traction? Rock salt supplies and warehouses in which to store it? (Rock salt does not do well stored outdoors where rain can fall on it...) Ice breakers in the harbor?

Given the strict environmental requirements of California law, Eureka should probably (this is NOT legal advice) start rather soon on the environmental impact studies related to removing quantities of ice and snow in an acceptable manner. Perhaps they could confer with officials of another heavily-regulated-city-by-the-frozen-bay, Boston, on this matter.

Looks like sales of warm clothing will be on the upswing in Eureka. Bundle up. I suspect that an Ice Age is not a fun time. Eureka could be the canary in the coal mine on all this "CO2-induced, man-made global warming."

Roger E. Sowell, Esq.

Marina del Rey, California

(where it will also be rather cold tonight...below 40 degrees F...that's near the record for us, too)