Highways reopen after heavy storm

All three Southern California highways shut down because of snow and ice were reopened Thursday as the region’s wet weather gave way to a slight warming trend.

The 14 Freeway, Interstate 5 and Interstate 15 were all reopened in both directions, said Officer Alex Gonzalez of the California Highway Patrol.

Weather conditions will remain dry, cool and blustery as the big arctic storm that brought heavy rain and snow moves east, forecasters said.

A frost advisory has been issued for the Inland Empire and the valleys and desert regions of San Diego County from 10 p.m. Thursday through 10 a.m. today.

A slight warming trend will also begin, with highs rising to the uppers 50s from the lower 50s. The weather will be perfect for anyone heading to ski in the mountains, said Bill Patzert, a climatologist with Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge.

Another storm off the Pacific will bring more rain and snow at the beginning of next week, although the intensity of that weather system will be less.

“Winter has definitely arrived. As we move into next week, people in Southern California might have a white Christmas,” Patzert said.

The chilly weather comes only a few days before the first official day of winter, which is Sunday.

Although the storm brought some inconvenience, the region suffered a dry fall and winter last year and needed this heavy snow, Patzert said.

The snow and rain that fell in the Southland will be the “spring water supply,” he said.

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ruben.vives @latimes.com

nathan.olivarez-giles@latimes.com