Frost Advisory in Effect for Malibu Mountains as Storm Approaches

By City News Service

A cold storm took aim at Southern California Friday, threatening a mix of rain and snow as low as the 2,500-foot level as strong, gusty winds lash the region, forecasters said.

A frost advisory will be in effect until 9 a.m. in the Santa Monica Mountain Recreational Area and the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, and a freeze warning has been declared in the Antelope Valley until 10 a.m. Temperature highs in Los Angeles County once again will be in the 50s and 60s.

Snowfalls are expected to start late tonight or early Saturday morning, tapering off Saturday afternoon or evening, according to a National Weather Service advisory.

The storm will be accompanied by gusty north-to-northwest winds, with the strongest expected Saturday night in the area of The Grapevine.

A winter weather advisory, denoting the expectation of limited visibility as a result of falling and wind-whipped snow, will go into effect in the mountains of Santa Barbara County at 4 a.m. Saturday and two hours later in the San Gabriel mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, expiring at 3 a.m. Sunday.

In Los Angeles County, the snowfall will start early Saturday morning, peak late morning and early afternoon and turn to scattered showers by late afternoon, the advisory warned, adding: "Showers will continue through the early morning hours Sunday, especially near the Kern County line."

Between 3 and 6 inches of snow are expected to accumulate above 4,500 feet and 1-3 inches between 3,000 and 4,500 feet, according to the advisory. A mix of rain and snow is possible as low as 2,500 feet, it said.

At the same time, the area will be lashed by west-to-northwest winds of between 15 and 30 mph, gusting to 55 mph, with the strongest occurring from Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning around the Interstate 5 corridor and over higher peaks, it said.

"The combination of low-elevation snow and gusty winds will make travel hazardous through the mountains," the advisory said, specifically warning of light accumulation on Interstate 5 through the Tejon Pass and Angeles Crest Highway in the San Gabriels.