San Diego, California – Mountain travel across the Inland Empire will become dangerous by 10 a.m. Monday as heavy snow and wind gusts over 50 mph sweep into the San Bernardino and Riverside County mountains, with up to 3 feet expected at the highest elevations by Wednesday.
According to the National Weather Service in San Diego, a Winter Storm Warning runs from 10 a.m. Monday until noon Wednesday. Snowfall through Tuesday morning will range from 4 to 8 inches between 5,500 and 6,000 feet, 8 to 14 inches from 6,000 to 7,000 feet, and locally 2 to 3 feet above 7,500 feet. Communities including Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City, Lake Arrowhead, Wrightwood, Running Springs and Idyllwild-Pine Cove will see accumulating snow and periods of low visibility.
Snow levels will briefly climb to 6,500 to 7,500 feet late Monday morning before falling back to 5,000 to 5,500 feet overnight into Tuesday. A second, colder surge Tuesday night into Wednesday morning will add 6 to 12 inches above 6,000 feet and up to 18 inches above 7,000 feet. By Wednesday afternoon, snow levels could drop as low as 3,500 to 4,500 feet.
Southwest winds will gust 45 to 55 mph through Tuesday, then strengthen to 55 to 75 mph along desert slopes Tuesday night into Wednesday. Blowing snow may shut down stretches of Highway 330, Highway 18 and Highway 243, while strong gusts could down trees and power lines.
Drivers should delay non-essential trips, carry chains and monitor Caltrans road conditions at 511. The warning remains in effect until noon Wednesday, with additional advisories possible as colder air moves in.
