The 5 Freeway was shut down in both directions through the Grapevine as another cold winter storm made its way across Southern California Monday, bringing dangerous driving conditions.
Other highways, including the 14 and 138, could be impacted with snowfall expected to continue in northern Los Angeles County Monday night, Caltrans said in a tweet.
The Grapevine closure began shortly before 9 p.m. Northbound lanes were blocked at Parker Road in Castaic, and southbound traffic was being diverted at Grapevine Road in Kern County.
Officials were unsure when the freeway would reopen, and motorists were advised to use alternate routes. The take the 101 Freeway, northbound travelers can head west on Highway 126 and southbound travelers can head west on Highway 166.
Highway 58 was also closed through Tehachapi with no estimated time of reopening.
Rainfall totals for Monday were pretty light across most of the region, with the the day’s highest total of 0.67 inches recorded at the San Gabriel Dam. But cold temperatures also brought heavier snowfall at high elevations, including 3 inches in Wrightwood and 1 inch in Frazier Park, according to the National Weather Service.
By 7 p.m., showers were moving southeast into the Antelope Valley, where they were expected to bring snow down to the valley floor. Light snow had been spotted earlier in the afternoon at the Lancaster Airport, forecasters said.
The wet weather came with gusty winds, and a wind advisory was extended through 10 p.m. for coastal areas of southwest California, which were forecast to see gusts of 35 to 45 mph.
Gusts between 35 and 55 mph brought a risk of downed trees and power lines to parts of Los Angeles County.
Around 7:30 p.m., authorities responded to a collapsed canopy at a Shell gas station at 1200 Beryl St. in Redondo Beach. And at about 7:45 p.m., a large pine tree was reported downed near the corner of Oakley and Chelsea roads in Palos Verdes Estates.
Although there wasn’t a lot of rain, officials still warned of slick roadways and urged drivers to leave extra time for their commutes.
A winter weather advisory has been issued for the Grapevine, Tehachapi and Lake Isabella areas until 11 p.m.
Silverado Canyon residents are still working to clean up from last week’s mudslide.
The wet weather should move out of the region overnight, making way for sunny skies Tuesday.
However, it was expected to remain “quite chilly” even after winds died down in portions of the Inland Empire and eastern San Diego County, where a frost advisory was in effect into Tuesday morning.
