Storm Dumps Rain, Snow On SoCal; Officials Mull Freeway Closures

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — A storm system moving through the Southland brought some much-needed rain and even snow to the region Thursday.

KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou reports drivers in the San Gabriel Mountains and the Antelope Valley could face icy roads, gusty winds and low visibility overnight.

Officer John Lutz said both the CHP and Caltrans officials will have to take into account several factors if they make the call to close the Interstate 5 from Castaic over to the Tejon Pass, commonly referred to as The Grapevine.

"There's a 40 mile pass of roadway there that has very limited services, including places to stay, gasoline, and somewhere to eat," Lutz said.

The snow level was expected to drop to between 3,500 and 4,500 feet by 5 p.m. this evening, according to a National Weather Service advisory.

Between 2 and 5 inches of snow are expected to accumulate above 4,500 feet, with lighter accumulation possible as low as 3,500 feet, according to the advisory.

Officials at Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood told KCAL9's Adrianna Weingold they expect as much as 6 inches of fresh powder before the storm is over.

A winter weather advisory denoting an expectation of travel difficulties as a result of snow and blowing snow will be in effect in the San Gabriel Mountains until 4 a.m. Friday.

Caltrans says chains or snow tires are being required on some routes in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.

The system is not expected to drop enough rain on downtown Los Angeles to avoid setting a mark for the driest calendar year on record, the Associated Press reported.

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