The first of two Pacific storms expected this week rolled toward Los Angeles early Monday. The forecast includes showers, winds, high surf, low temperatures, and dangerous driving conditions in Southern California mountains.
Showers were moving through Central California early Monday. Light showers were reported near Santa Barbara.
There is a 50 percent chance of showers during daytime hours, dropping to 40 percent this evening.
Along the coast, there will be a high risk of high rip currents. A high surf advisory will be in effect from 2 p.m. to 8 a.m. Tuesday. In Orange County, the advisory will start and end two hours later.
A gale warning will be in effect across the Southland's coastal waters. NWS forecasters said wind gusts of about 40 knots are possible.
The snow level in the Ventura and Los Angels county portions of the San Gabriel mountains generally will range from 5,000 to 5,500 feet, than drop rapidly tonight to between 3,000 and 3,500 feet, according to the NWS. An accumulation of between two and four inches of snow was expected above 4,000 feet, the agency said in an advisory.
"There will likely be strong west to northwest winds with this system, with gusts up to 50 miles per hour," according to the NWS advisory. "The low snow levels combined with gusty winds will likely have an impact by this evening across Interstate 5 near The Grapevine."
Mountain areas will be swept by west winds of between 20 and 35 mph Monday afternoon, gusting to 45 mph. On Monday night, forecasters are expecting northwest winds in the 25-35-mph range, gusting to 50 mph, with the strongest winds likely in the Interstate 5 corridor, according to an NWS advisory.
A winter weather advisory issued by the NWS to indicate that blowing snow, sleet and freezing rain will make travel difficult will be in force in the San Gabriels from noon through Monday night.
"Residents and travelers to the mountains should be prepared for hazardous winter weather conditions and possible road closures," according to the advisory. "Interstate 5 near The Grapevine and Highway 33 in the Ventura County mountains could be impacted by snow and gusty winds tonight.''
Dry weather is expected Tuesday but a new storm will generate more showers on Wednesday, according to the NWS.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @NBCLA // Facebook: NBCLA
