I don't know about elsewhere, but this winter, while we've had a lot of snow early, hasn't been "unusually" cold. That is reserved for winters where it hits 40 below zero, or stays in the 20s and 30s below zero for extended periods of time (months).
California is a beautiful State, from what I have heard, rich with resources, including petroleum and natural gas. Unfortunately,some of the people there have made a mess of things, and won't permit the exploration for and production of intrinsic resources to benefit its citizens.
As long as people there vote for such nonsense, there will be misery accompanying it.