Wintry Storm Dumps Rain, Snow on Area

Winter-like weather swept through Southern California on Tuesday as a spring storm dropped snow on communities from La Crescenta to Palmdale, with accumulations of up to 4 inches shutting down the Antelope Valley Freeway.

The storm, which came on the 12th day of spring, also produced record low temperatures, waterspouts, hail and heavy rain across the region.

Snow also fell in Leona Valley, Lake Hughes and Littlerock. About 7:05 p.m., the California Highway Patrol closed the Antelope Valley Freeway from Agua Dulce Canyon Road to Palmdale Boulevard to allow Caltrans workers to plow, said Officer Karen Faciane.

Meanwhile, CHP officers escorted motorists on the Golden State Freeway from California 138 near Gorman through the Grapevine, Faciane said. CHP officers and Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies at the Lancaster station fielded several calls regarding drivers stuck in snow.

Meteorologists expected up to an inch of rain along the coast and in the valleys, and up to 2 inches in the foothills.

In Orange County, numerous waterspouts were spotted off Huntington Beach and Sunset Beach. The first was seen shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service issued a heavy snow warning for elevations of 4,000 feet and above, and a snow advisory for areas at 2,000 feet and higher.

“It’s a little unusual this time of year,” said meteorologist Dave Gomberg. “I’ve seen these storms before in the early spring . . . it’s not totally unheard of.”

The rain and snow mixture was expected to last until noon today, but the heaviest precipitation was expected to taper off late Tuesday night, forecasters said.