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Community Corner

Winter Storm Arrives in the Southland

The storm is expected to produce heavy rain and rip currents in some areas.

Rain fell in the Southland this morning, marking the arrival of a cold winter storm expected to generate heavy snowfall and create perilous driving conditions in the Antelope Valley and on mountain roads.

Along with rain and snow, the storm could produce rip currents, waterspouts and thunderstorms accompanied by heavy downpours, lightning, and erratic winds, National Weather Service forecasters said.

A winter storm warning, indicating severe winter weather conditions are occurring or expected, went into effect this morning in the San Gabriel mountains in both Los Angeles and Ventura counties and was scheduled to expire at noon Tuesday.

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In the Antelope Valley, the warning will take effect at 10 tonight and last until noon Tuesday.

The arteries expected to be most affected by snowfall in Los Angeles and Ventura counties today and Tuesday are Interstate 5 through The Grapevine, the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway, Pearblossom (138) Highway, State Routes 2 and 33, and Lockwood Valley Road, according to NWS forecasters.

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"Significant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in an emergency. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in you vehicle in case of an emergency," the NWS said in an advisory.

Rainfall amounts resulting from the storm are expected to be between a quarter-inch and three quarters of an inch across many coastal and valley areas and between an inch and 1.75 inches in the mountains, they said.

Snow accumulation will range from six to 10 inches on the floor of the Antelope Valley, especially across the valley's southeastern tier, and between eight and 14 inches in mountain areas, according to the NWS.

The snow level will drop to 3,500 feet today, then to between 2,500 and 3,000 feet tonight, according to an NWS advisory.

"Cold temperatures and periods of heavy snowfall will create hazardous driving conditions through Tuesday morning," it said.

NWS forecasters said travel on portions of the Antelope Valley Freeway and Pearblossom Highway would be impeded by heavy snowfall between tonight and Tuesday morning.

"Travel will be especially treacherous and icy on Pearblossom Highway between Phelan and Palmdale," according to an NWS advisory.

In mountain areas, between eight and 14 inches are expected to accumulate above 5,000 feet, and between four and eight inches between 3,500 and 5,000 feet, it said.

In some areas, the snow level could descend to between 2,500 feet and 3,000 feet from tonight to Tuesday morning, according to the advisory.

Thanks to a couple of early season rains, the Los Angeles region is ahead of its seasonal rainfall norm so far, with about 2.75 cumulative inches at the USC weather station since July 1. The basin historically averages about15 inches of rain per year.

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