L.A. cold snap: Fast-moving winter storm expected to affect travel

A cold weather system headed toward L.A. County is expected to push snow levels down to 3,000 feet Saturday, prompting road closure alerts and warnings that travel on the Grapevine could be affected, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The storm system could bring 1 to 3 inches of snow to as low as 3,000 feet, and up to 6 inches above 4,500 feet, according to the National Weather Service. The snow, combined with wind gusts of up to 55 mph, is expected to make traversing the Grapevine a challenge, forecasters warned.

Officials have already announced plans to close the Angeles National Forest Highway between Aliso Canyon Road and Upper Big Tujunga Road beginning at 1 a.m. Saturday. Upper Big Tujunga Road between Angeles Crest Highway and Angeles Forest Highway will also be shut down.

For Friday, conditions in the L.A. Basin are expected to be chilly, but mostly clear, with high temperatures around 60 degrees. But clouds will start accumulating overnight as the fast-moving cold front brings scattered rain showers and gusty winds to lower elevations, according to the National Weather Service.

The winter storm system is expected to move out overnight Saturday as high pressure builds on Sunday, starting a slight warming trend into mid-next week, the weather service said. Not until Wednesday, though, will daytime temperatures start to edge near 70 degrees.

Overnight lows will continue to be the 30- to 40-degree range.

-- Jason Wells, Los Angeles Times

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