Central Valley Citrus Groves Dodge Hard Freeze

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Frost advisories for Southern California's inland valleys and lower deserts and a freeze warning in Ventura County have expired but are likely to return overnight.

The National Weather Service says light winds and mostly clear skies allowed temperatures early Monday to fall into the upper 20s to mid-30s, with coldest locations in the lower to mid-20s.

California's citrus industry in the Central Valley dodged a hard freeze feared during recent cold nights. Temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley dipped to the high 20s and low 30s, ideal for most types of citrus for short periods.

The California Citrus Mutual trade association says as a precaution some growers ran wind machines and flooded orchards to raise temperatures a few degrees to protect trees during a hard freeze.