Amid strong winds and high surf, a storm brought snow to the San Gabriel Mountains at low elevations Monday and to the Antelope Valley before its expected departure from the region.
A winter storm warning denoting dangerous travel conditions was scheduled to be in effect in the San Gabriels and the Antelope Valley until noon. National Weather Service forecasters said the Interstate 5 Corridor in the San Gabriels will be affected by “significant snow, ice and wind impacts this morning.”
A wind advisory will be in effect until noon Monday in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys. In both areas, winds of 15-25 mph were expected, along with 35 mph gusts. Also in force was a high surf advisory, which will be in effect in Los Angeles County until 2 a.m. Tuesday and in Orange County until 3 a.m.
The snow level is expected to descend to between 2,000 and 2,500 feet this morning, with moderate snowfall expected on north slopes in the San Gabriels and in the northwestern corner of the Antelope Valley, forecasters said.
Up to eight inches could accumulate in the northwest foothills in the Antelope Valley, and between three and seven inches could pile up on I-5 near Gorman and The Grapevine amid icy conditions and winds blowing at between 25 and 40 miles per hour and gusting at 60 mph, they said.
“Snow combined with very strong winds, low visibilities and icy road conditions will likely produce dangerous winter driving conditions on mountain roads through the morning,” warned an NWS statement, adding that tire chains may be required. “Only travel in an emergency,” it said.
Dangerous driving conditions are also expected in the Antelope Valley, including on Pearblossom (SR 138) Highway, amid snowfall and winds of between 30 and 45 mph, gusting to 65 mph, it said.
About 4 a.m., Interstate 5 leading in and out of Los Angeles County was completely shut down due to snow and ice, authorities said. The roadway was shut down northbound at state Route 138 and southbound at Grapevine Road, a California Highway Patrol dispatcher in Bakersfield said.
At 6 a.m., northbound traffic resumed with escorts, and about 7:15 a.m., the roadway was reopened in both directions with no escorts required, the CHP reported.
In the San Gabriels above the 6,000-foot level, between one and two feet of snow are expected, with six to 12 inches expected on north slopes between 4,000 and 6,000 feet, and two to four inches at 3,000 feet, the NWS statement said.
The storm began generating rain Saturday night. Monday morning, 21,000 customers served by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power were without power, while 70,000 Southern California Edison customers were reported to be in the dark. The numbers had been even higher earlier.
Off the coast, “very strong” west-to-northwest winds were blowing this morning, with the NWS reporting winds of between 30 and 46 knots per hour, gusting to 45 kph through this morning. Seas of up to 19 feet were expected in the outer waters, it said. A gale warning will be in force until 2 p.m. Tuesday.
In these conditions, “it is highly recommended that mariners without the proper experience seek safe harbor prior to the onset of gale conditions,” a statement said.
The NWS forecast sunny weather in most Southland communities Monday, plus windy conditions in parts of Orange County, and highs of 44 in Palmdale; 45 in Lancaster and on Mount Wilson; 51 in Saugus; 56 in Burbank; 57 in Avalon and Woodland Hills; 58 in Pasadena; 59 in San Gabriel and at LAX; 60 in Downtown L.A. and Mission Viejo; 61 in Long Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Yorba Linda and Fullerton; and 62 in Anaheim and Irvine. A slight warming trend will get underway Wednesday, leading to highs in the mid 70s Thursday and the high 70s by Sunday.
—City News Service