A cold storm out of Canada will drop snow in the Antelope Valley and at low elevations in the San Gabriel Mountains today as wind and ice create horrendous travel conditions on some roads and a cold spell expected to last through New Year’s Day grips the region, forecasters said.
The snow will begin falling in the mountains mid-afternoon today, and light snow is expected to reach the Antelope Valley by 6 p.m., they said.
The snow level is expected to start out at 4,000 feet today, followed by widespread snow showers in the afternoon, according to a National Weather Service statement. Winds are expected to gain in strength this afternoon.
This evening, the snow level will drop rapidly to 2,000 feet by midnight, with between one and two inches of snow expected across the foothills north of Pearblossom Highway (state Route 138) and the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, the statement said. The same amount of snow is expected on Interstate 5 through The Grapevine.
The heaviest accumulation — between two and four inches — will be over the north-facing slopes of the eastern San Gabriels, with the snowfall tapering off Wednesday morning, setting the stage for a cold but dry New Year’s Day on Thursday.
Little in the way of accumulation is expected on the Antelope Valley floor, forecasters said.
A winter weather advisory — replacing the more serious winter storm watch that had been promised Monday — will be in force from 6 p.m. today to 4 a.m. Wednesday in the Antelope Valley and from 3 p.m.. today to 4 a.m. Wednesday in the San Gabriels.
Also expected today are strong winds — 15-25 miles per hour with gusts of up to 45 mph in the Antelope Valley and of between 25 and 40 mph with 60-mph gusts in the San Gabriels, forecasters said.
“The combination of snow and wind will lead to very hazardous conditions for anyone venturing outside” and onto mountain roads, warned the NWS statement. “Roads will be icy, and road closures are a strong possibility,” including at the 14, the 138 and Interstate 5 through The Grapevine. “Be prepared for snow-covered roads and limited visibility, and use caution while driving,” it said.
Wind chill readings will fall to single digits in the mountains overnight, forecasters said.
Little precipitation is expected outside the Antelope Valley and the San Gabriels, forecasters said. A tenth of an inch of rain could fall in valley areas outside the Antelope Valley, they said.
Because of the weather system slated to slide into the Southland today, New Year’s Day will be chilly, with freezing and near-freezing temperatures expected, NWS forecasters said.
“For those attending the Rose Parade in Pasadena, they can expect temperatures near to slightly below freezing by sunrise. Sub-freezing temperatures are possible in the same areas Friday morning as well,” an NWS statement said. The wind is expected to be a big part of this week’s weather. A wind advisory will be in force from 3 p.m. today until noon Wednesday in the San Fernando Valley and from 9 p.m. today until noon Wednesday in the San Gabriel Valley and in what the weather service regards as the L.A. County coastal zone, which includes beach cities, Downtown L.A. and the rest of metropolitan Los Angeles, and the Hollywood Hills.
In the San Fernando Valley, forecasters are expecting winds of between 20 and 30 mpg, gusting to 55 mph from this afternoon through noon Wednesday. In the San Gabriel Valley and in the L.A. coastal zone, the winds will also blow at between 20 and 30 mph but gusts of only 40 mph are expected, NWS forecasters said.
Also scheduled in the San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys are freeze warning — from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.
In Orange County, a wind advisory will be in force from 10 tonight until 4 Wednesday afternoon. Winds of between 20 and 30 mph, with 50-mph gusts, are expected starting tonight, forecasters said.
Today’s temperatures, mostly amid mostly cloudy skies and showers, are forecast to be 42 on Mount Wilson; 45 in Palmdale and Lancaster; 51 in Saugus; 56 in Pasadena, San Gabriel, Woodland Hills, and Burbank; 57 in Yorba Linda and Mission Viejo; 58 at LAX; 59 in Avalon, Fullerton, Anaheim, Irvine and San Clemente; and 60 in downtown L.A., Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Long Beach.
Partly cloudy skies and similar temperatures are expected Wednesday, followed by continued chilly temperatures but sunny skies beginning New Year’s Day. A warming trend will begin Sunday.
