Southern California faces another round of wet weather Thursday (February 19) as a series of powerful winter storms continues to pummel the region, following days of heavy rainfall that has already claimed lives and caused widespread damage.
The storm system is pushing snow levels lower than normal, potentially affecting commuters along the Grapevine, with snow possible at elevations around 3,500 feet.
Since Monday, the consecutive storms have drenched much of California and dumped feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada. The severe weather has turned deadly, with a fatal avalanche occurring in the Sierra and one person dying in San Bernardino County after being swept away in fast-moving waters.
The storms have uprooted trees, caused vehicle crashes and inundated streets across the Los Angeles metro area. Flooding was widespread on Monday, with one entire block of businesses sustaining damage. Aerial footage showed dozens of fallen trees from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County, with one block in Fullerton alone experiencing five downed trees.
Wind gusts reached up to 70 miles per hour in some locations Tuesday night and throughout Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. On the Grapevine section of the 5 Freeway near Gorman, snow and ice caused multiple crashes. In Wrightwood, a falling tree nearly crushed a man while he slept.
A winter storm warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for the San Bernardino County mountains, where Big Bear Mountain Resort forecasts receiving an additional five inches of snow. The Sierra Nevada is also expected to receive up to eight additional inches of snow in the Tahoe Basin Thursday, with avalanche danger continuing following the series of storms.
Friday is expected to be dry but cold, with possible morning frost in valleys as temperatures remain chilly. Saturday should bring the nicest weather of the week as sunshine returns and temperatures rebound into the 60s.
However, the wet weather pattern is not over. Forecasters predict another possible round of rain arriving Sunday and continuing into next week. Officials urged residents to remain cautious while out in the slick and cold conditions.