Storm Brings Several Inches Of Snow To Southern California Mountains

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A cold front brought rain and snow to Southern California for a second day Monday.

The National Weather Service forecast rain Monday morning, setting the chance at a high 50 percent along the coast, in metropolitan L.A., and in the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys, and 60 percent in the San Gabriel Valley.

Monday's storm is expected to generate snowfall in the San Gabriel Mountains through the afternoon, with most of it falling above 6,000 feet. Between four and seven inches of snow are expected.

At lower elevations, between one and four inches of snow are expected.

The storm has dropped about six inches of snow in Big Bear, where there hasn't been much this season. Many resorts in Southern California have had to close early.

Drivers heading up to Big Bear using Highway 330 overnight were required to have chains as snow fell steadily. Snow plows worked around the clock to clear the roads and by morning, they were making good progress.

One man drove all the way from Bakersfield to celebrate his 33rd birthday in the mountains, and the fresh powder is like icing on his birthday cake.

"I haven't snowboarded in a few years. I can't wait," he said.

At Mountain High in Wrightwood, which has been closed for several days, seven to 10 inches of new snow fell overnight. The resort is reopening Tuesday for skiing and snowboarding from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

South-to-west winds are expected to blow across the mountains as sustained speeds of between 15 and 30 miles per hour, gusting to 40 mph, forecasters said. A winter weather advisory indicating perilous road conditions was scheduled to be in effect until 4 p.m.

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