New Storm Closes I-5, Brings More Rain to L.A. : Weather: Grapevine pass is hit by snow, ice and winds. Precipitation is expected to continue through today.

Snow, ice and gusting winds forced the closure of Interstate 5 along the Grapevine as a new storm dropped rain and snow from Santa Barbara County to Los Angeles County on Tuesday.

The storm was expected to spread east and south. Blizzard-like conditions were reported near Gorman, at the 4,000-foot level of I-5.

Several hundred northbound motorists reportedly were turned back at Lake Hughes Road, and southbound drivers were halted at Laval Road.

Meanwhile, more rain fell across the lower elevations of the area, and the National Weather Service forecast for today called for continued precipitation.

Los Angeles police closed Burbank Boulevard on Tuesday afternoon from the San Diego Freeway to Balboa Boulevard, and Woodley Avenue from Burbank Boulevard to Victory Boulevard, because of rising water in the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area. Last year, dozens of motorists were stranded there by a deluge.

Forecasters said higher pressure in the Gulf of Alaska has pushed a series of eastern Pacific storms to California this season.

State water officials, meanwhile, said heavy snowfall in the northern reaches of California--up to 20 feet in places--and the eastern Sierra could signal the eventual end of a six-year drought.

Lee Gottlieb of the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District said the snowpack in the State Water Project watershed is 145% of normal. He said the snowpack for the upper Colorado River area is 98% of normal.

The Los Angeles Civic Center received 0.38 of an inch of rain between midnight Monday and 3 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service said. The high temperature was 53 degrees, 14 below normal for the date.

The total rainfall for January through 3 p.m. Tuesday was 5.4 inches, and the total for the season was 10.89 inches. The normal season-to-date total is 5.93 inches. Los Angeles had received a seasonal total of 5.55 inches at this time a year ago, the Weather Service said.

The rain caused worries of mud and rock slides for Malibu-area homeowners and Big Bear-bound skiers.

Winds in the mountains were expected to be in the 20- to 35-m.p.h. range, with gusts to 55 m.p.h. through Tuesday night. The Weather Service said winds to 90 m.p.h. were reported 10 miles offshore at oil platforms between Point Arguello and Point Conception, and 40 m.p.h. winds were reported at Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc.

In flood-ravaged Baja California, a deluge last week reportedly washed out three sections of a highway that runs the length of the Mexican state, stranding at least 500 U.S. tourists.

Mexican officials said that none of the tourists appeared to be in danger, and that food and medical supplies were readily available.