LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A winter storm will make its way into the Southland tomorrow night, with some mountain areas potentially seeing more than a foot of snow and the rest of the region expected to see rainy conditions into Thursday.
A winter storm watch will take effect Tuesday evening and continue until Thursday evening for Los Angeles County mountains, excluding the Santa Monica range, with the National Weather Service anticipating snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches and potentially up to 15 inches above 4,500 feet.
The snowy conditions will be joined by southwest winds of 15 to 30 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph.
Forecasters warned that conditions will make driving hazardous in the county's northern reaches, with the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) freeways likely to be affected.
“A rain band looks to move into the region late Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning, then a cold and unstable air mass will continue showers with low snow levels down to 2,500-3,500 feet,'' according to the National Weather Service. “Accumulating snowfall will likely affect travel through the Interstate 5 Corridor and on Highway 14.
“... There is also a potential for thunderstorms across the area, possibly producing brief locally heavy rainfall.''
The Antelope Valley, which was already under a wind advisory Monday thanks to gusts of up to 50 mph, will likely be under another such advisory Tuesday.
“Rain will become likely across all but southern and eastern L.A. County by late Tuesday night, where there will be a chance of rain, then rain is expected across the region Wednesday,'' according to the NWS.
Forecasters said the rain will be heavy at times on Wednesday.
“Rainfall totals are generally expected to average one-half to one inch, except locally 1.5 inches or possibly higher in the foothills and mountains below the snow level,'' according to the NWS.
The storm system is expected to move off to the east on Thursday, although a smaller system could bring additional showers and some isolated thunderstorms on Thursday.
Dry weather is expected to return by Friday and continuing through the weekend.
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