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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Cold and occasionally wet conditions will plague the Southland through tomorrow, with gusty winds blowing across the region and a chance of snow, rain and even hail possible before things warm up later in the week.
Some light rain fell Tuesday morning in the San Gabriel mountains, and forecasters said precipitation will remain possible through the day.
``A very cold storm system will move through the area through Wednesday, bringing a threat of rain and low-elevation snow showers and gusty winds along with a slight chance of thunderstorms with small hail tonight,'' according to the National Weather Service.
A winter weather advisory will be in effect until noon Wednesday in the Los Angeles County Mountains and the Antelope Valley. Forecasters said the mountains could see snow accumulating up to 3 inches, with 5 inches possible in some localized areas and the snow level falling as low as 2,000 feet by Wednesday morning. The snowy conditions will be accompanied by winds gusting up to 45 mph.
``This will be the coldest storm that we have seen so far this winter season, with the potential for widespread snow/ice impacts across many of our lower elevation passes which could make for difficult travel with potential delays or road closures,'' according to the NWS.
Forecasters said the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway could be impacted by snow and ice, as well as the Golden State (5) Freeway from the Grapevine to Castaic.
The Antelope Valley could received as much as an inch of snow on the valley floor, with up to 2 inches falling in the foothills. Winds will also gust through that area, reaching up to 50 mph.
A wind advisory will be in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday in the Antelope Valley, and until 6 p.m. in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys and the coastal region stretching into downtown Los Angeles.
In Orange County, a wind advisory will also in place until 6 p.m. for Orange County coastal and inland areas, while a winter weather advisory will be in effect until noon Wednesday in the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills.
Forecasters said cold conditions will continue through Wednesday, with drier weather expected on Thursday, along with a slight warming trend that will last into the weekend.