Mar 22, 2009 10:16 am US/Pacific
Wet, Windy Winter Storm Takes SoCal By Surprise
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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A winter storm moved through the Southland Sunday, bringing along rain, strong winds and colder temperatures. (File)
AP
A storm in a hurry pushed rain cells across Southern California at 25 mph Sunday morning, slickening roads and contributing to some crashes, with increasing winds expected to reach 60 mph in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
"I expect the California Highway Patrol will close some of these pass areas to high-profile vehicles," said Philip Gonsalves, a weather service forecaster in San Diego. "More than anything, this storm is going to be remembered for the winds."
At higher elevations in the San Jacinto Mountains Sunday morning, falling temperatures meant icier precipitation.
"It's sleet right now, but nothing's sticking on the roads yet," said Engineer Mark LaMont of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District. "I imagine if the temperature keeps dropping they will require chains," LaMont said about 9:45 a.m. "It's 35.1 degrees right now and getting
colder."
Several miles to the northeast and higher in the mountains, it was 28 degrees at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway upper station, down from 40 degrees at midnight Sunday, according to tramway weather instruments.
Light snow had begun to fall, and was sticking to roads, in the highest elevations near the Grapevine and near Big Bear by mid-morning, according to California Highway Patrol officers.
The snow level near Frazier Park at 9 a.m. was at 4,500 feet above sea level and falling, the National Weather Service said. Forecasters predicted snow would fall on Interstate 5 over the Grapevine around noon Sunday, and the snow line would drop to 3,500 feet. But less than three inches of snowfall was predicted
at the highest elevations.
Chains were required after 8 a.m. on state Route 330 from the Inland Empire towards mountain resort towns, and were expected to be implemented on other mountain-top roads by midday.
About two-hundredths of one inch of rain had fallen at Riverside Municipal Airport as of 9:35 a.m., according to Gonsalves.
Winds were already gusting over 30 mph in the San Gorgonio Pass between Beaumont and Palm Springs, Gonsalves said. Winds are expected to peak between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday, Gonsalves said.
"It's a pretty fast-moving storm, compared to the average speed of storms that linger in the region," Gonsalves said. "Most storms we see affect the area for two days. This one is going to blow out by the end of today."
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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