Los Angeles, California – Drivers on the I-5 Grapevine could face snow-covered lanes and near-zero visibility beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday as a winter storm targets Southern California’s mountain corridors.
According to the National Weather Service in Oxnard, a Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday through 9 a.m. PST Thursday for the Interstate 5 Corridor, Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains and Southern Ventura County Mountains. Snow totals of 1 to 4 inches are possible between 3,500 and 4,500 feet, including the Grapevine near Tejon Pass, with 6 to 12 inches expected above 4,500 feet. Winds may gust up to 50 mph, creating blowing snow and visibility below one-quarter mile at times.
Tejon Pass, Pyramid Lake, Gorman and the higher terrain near Figueroa Mountain and the Topatopa Mountains face the greatest impacts. Caltrans may implement chain controls or temporary closures if snowfall rates increase overnight Tuesday into early Wednesday.
Bridges and overpasses will ice first, especially along elevated stretches of I-5. Officials urge drivers to delay mountain travel, check QuickMap for real-time conditions and ensure vehicles are winter-ready with chains, full fuel tanks and emergency supplies.
The heaviest snowfall is expected late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Additional updates are likely as the storm evolves through Thursday morning.
