Cold, Late-Season Winter Storm Bringing Rain This Weekend

A cold late-season winter storm will bring the Southland rain this weekend, along with high surf, fierce winds and snow, even at low elevations, creating the possibility of perilous driving conditions on some major highways, forecasters said today.

"Anyone planning to travel into the mountains and deserts this weekend should be prepared for the possibility of winter weather driving conditions. This weather could be deadly for unprepared campers or hikers," the national Weather Service warned in an advisory.

The storm's cold front will approach the Central Coast tonight, then sweep across the southwestern tier of the state, generating "widespread precipitation" for around six hours Saturday and creating "the possibility of thunderstorms with small hail," according to the NWS.

Behind the front, there will continue to be the threat of additional showers and snow showers over the region into Sunday'' as cold and unstable air engulfs the area, said an advisory.

The storm is projected to produce between three-quarter of an inch and 1.5 inches of rain, although between 1.5 and three inches is possible in the foothills and mountains, NWS forecasters said.

The snow level will be at between 5,000 and 6,000 feet tonight and Saturday but drop to around 3,000 feet Saturday night into Sunday, according to the weather service. Between 10 and 16 inches of snow are expected to accumulate above 6,000 feet, they said.

But "snowfall will be possible down to 2,500 feet in heavier showers, which would include the Santa Monica Mountains, Antelope Valley, Cuyama Valley
and portions of the interior valleys of San Luis Obispo County," according to
an NWS advisory.

"Dangerous winter weather conditions can be expected to affect mountain
roadways, including Interstate 5 through The Grapevine, Highway 33 in Ventura
county, and Highway 14 through Soledad Canyon. Even highway 138 in the Antelope Valley may be affected by the wintry weather Saturday night into Sunday morning," it said. Angeles Crest Highway, also known as state Route 2, may be affected as well.

The storm, resulting from an upper-level low-pressure system, will be
accompanied by stiff winds, NWS forecasters said, warning of gusts of between
40 and 60 miles per hour in mountain areas and the Antelope Valley.

"Heavy snow, gusty winds, low visibilities in blowing snow, and icy roads are possible, making for dangerous travel conditions," said an NWS advisory.

A winter storm watch -- denoting the potential for an accumulation of snow, sleet or ice -- will be in effect in mountain areas from late tonight through Sunday morning.

Along the coast, there could be strong rip currents along south-facing shores today through the afternoon as a rising tide combines with a long-period
south swell, forecasters said.

Behind the storm's cold front, gale-force winds -- 39-46 miles per hour -- "are possible, and very large seas will make for hazardous conditions across the coastal waters late Saturday through early Monday," an advisory said.

Temperatures today generally will be in the mid 60s, dropping several degrees Saturday and a few more Sunday.