A cold Pacific storm will sweep into the Southland this afternoon and hang around for about 24 hours, generating showers, high winds, plus snow at low elevations, making mountain travel perilous, forecasters said.
Stretches of roads in the Angeles National Forest were scheduled to be closed tonight due to snow and icy conditions, the Los Angeles County Public Works Department announced.
Angeles Forest Highway between Aliso Canyon Road and the Angeles Crest
Highway, also known as State Route 2, and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road from Angeles Forest Highway to the Angeles Crest Highway will close at 10 p.m. and remain shut until the storm has passed and roads have been inspected, officials said.
A winter storm warning will be in effect from 10 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m.
Friday in the San Gabriel mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Between four and eight inches of snow are expected above 5,000 feet, and
between one and three inches at lower elevations over mountain passes,
according to NWS forecasters.
Snow showers were expected to begin late this evening and peak in
intensity between dawn and late morning Friday, when snow levels are expected to drop to between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, NWS forecasters said.
Snow showers should diminish Friday afternoon but remain significant before tapering off Friday evening, according to the NWS.
The snow was likely to affect Interstate 5 in the Grapevine area, the
Soledad Pass on the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, Pearblossom Highway (138) in the Antelope Valley, and Highway 33 in the mountains of Ventura County,
according to NWS forecasters.
Much of the rain that will douse the Greater L.A. area will be in the form of showers, according to an NWS advisory. But there is a slight chance of
thunderstorms accompanied by small hail and heavy downpours tonight and Friday morning.
Rainfall totals will be between a quarter-inch and a half-inch, with one
inch in the mountains, NWS forecasters said.
