Storm Changes to Rain in Most of Southland

A persistent Arctic storm continued to harass the Southland this morning, pouring down rain that tangled commuter traffic around Los Angeles and dropping snow in the mountain passes that left 8-foot drifts across Interstate 5 near Gorman, isolating the community of 150.

I-5--the main highway from Los Angeles to the north--remained closed by snow for a second day, and the California Highway Patrol said the eight-lane freeway probably won’t be reopened until sometime Friday.

“It’s still snowing up there,” CHP Officer Mike Brey said at 10 a.m. “You can’t even get in there with a four-wheel drive.”

Stranded in Home

Kay Williamson reported cheerfully that she was stuck at her home in the Gorman area.

“The drifts are up to 5 feet high by the house. We have plenty of food, but we could use some milk. . . . I guess if someone gets sick we’ll call 911 and just hope the helicopter can get in here.”

Caltrans crews were able to scrape away enough of the falling snow to keep California 14 open between Newhall and Palmdale, but motorists were being escorted by highway patrolmen and delays of several hours were reported.

Still Some Snow

Snow continued to fall sporadically this morning in the Antelope Valley, where 35,000 students missed a second day of classes because of the weather. But the snow that had fallen in the foothill communities in and around Los Angeles on Wednesday was gone by this morning, melted into a brown slush.

In Orange County, slick road conditions contributed to a chain of minor accidents on the southbound Oso Parkway in Mission Viejo this morning, officials said.

CHP officials said as many as eight fender-benders occurred, sending several people to local hospitals with minor injuries.

Highway patrol officials throughout the county reported an increase in minor accidents due to rainy conditions.