Los Angeles, CA – Drivers on the I-5 Grapevine could face chain controls and possible shutdowns starting at 9 p.m. Wednesday as heavy snow and 70 mph wind gusts slam Southern California’s mountain corridors.
According to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard, a Winter Storm Warning takes effect at 9 p.m. Wednesday and remains in place until 7 a.m. Friday for the Interstate 5 Corridor, the Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains and the Southern Ventura County Mountains. Snow totals of 1 to 4 inches are expected between 3,500 and 4,500 feet, including Tejon Pass, with 6 to 12 inches possible above 4,500 feet. Wind gusts could reach 60 to 70 mph this afternoon through late Wednesday night, then intensify again late Thursday into early Friday.
The Grapevine section of I-5 near Gorman and Pyramid Lake faces the highest risk for slick pavement, especially on bridges and overpasses where temperatures drop fastest. Visibility could fall below one-quarter mile during heavier bursts of snow and blowing snow.
In Ventura and Santa Barbara County mountains, including Rose Valley, Figueroa Mountain and the Topatopa range, strong crosswinds may down tree limbs and create sudden whiteout conditions along exposed ridges.
Travelers should delay mountain trips if possible, check Caltrans QuickMap for real-time closures and carry chains. Additional restrictions or closures could be issued before the Thursday morning commute as snowfall intensifies.
