Rain will taper off later Thursday for post-Christmas holiday travelers
By David Biggar and Kelly Whitney ••
NBCUniversal, Inc.
A winter storm forces road closures. Belen De Leon has the forecast for Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
A cold winter storm that brought rain and snow to Southern California forced road closures overnight, including the 5 Freeway north of Los Angeles and the Cajon Pass.
The storm moved in Christmas night and continued into Thursday with snow in the mountain passes and flooding on city streets that impacted post-holiday travelers.
A cold winter storm brought snow to SoCal's high desert communities. Toni Guinyard reports for Today in LA on Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
"Today is the last day we have to deal with this, then we start to see some drying," said NBC4 forecaster Belen De Leon.
It was snowing in the busy Grapevine and Cajon passes in the overnight hours. Both the 5 Freeway north of LA and the 15 Freeway between the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains remained closed late Thursday morning.
By the afternoon, Caltrans announced that both the northbound and southbound sides of the 15 Freeway were back open. However, traffic was moving slowly, and officials said drivers could expect to encounter icy conditions overnight.
I-15 is open but traffic is moving really slow. Expect lengthy delays on 15 in Cajon Pass and Mountain Pass due to conditions and heavy traffic. Avoid travel if possible until traffic dies down. Go to Caltrans Quickmap https://t.co/DWmXqRCVg3 to monitor traffic conditions.
There was no immediate estimate on when the 5 Freeway would be reopened.
#GRAPEVINE: Interstate 5 over the Grapevine pass is now CLOSED due to multiple stuck vehicles and heavy snowfall. Priority will be to assist vehicles already on the pass to the other side, followed by clearing the roadway. No estimate for reopening at this time.
The 15 Freeway is a major route between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. After being stuck for five hours in the area, driver Johnny Lim wasn't sure he could reach Las Vegas, where he hoped to spend some time after Christmas. He worried about driving his car through the pass once it reopened.
"The freeway is full of snow and ice," he said, adding that his car "is not built for conditions like this."
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Flooding was an additional concern in several counties. Flooding closed lanes on the northbound 5 Freeway at the 110 Freeway.
Carlos Fimbres
Hot air balloons in Temecula are seen floating in front of snow-covered mountains after a November 2019 storm.
Arthur Doyle
A drone view of the snow cover at Lake Arrowhead Village after a November 2019 storm.
Caitlin Brown
Holiday travelers encountered some stunning sights in Southern California's mountains after a November 2019 storm.
Stu Marzell
A view of the snow-covered mountains in the distance as seen from Hacienda Heights Dec. 2, 2019.
Ken Kilar
Two cars are buried under snow off Highway 330 from Big Bear during a late November 2019 snowstorm.
Suzann Reina
A snowy scene after a late November 2019 storm in the Palmdale area.
Snow Sports PR/John Brice
Snow blanketed Snow Valley Mountain Resort in Running Springs on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.
Toni Guinyard
As two storm systems moved through Southern California, Wrightwood got a healthy dusting of snow Nov. 21, 2019.
Toni Guinyard
It's not yet winter, but after a storm rolled through the region, Wrightwood is getting ready for the holidays Nov. 21, 2019.
Toni Guinyard
It's not the inside of a snow globe -- it's Wrightwood Nov. 21, 2019.
Toni Guinyard
Snow is coming down in Wrightwood Nov. 21, 2019.
Toni Guinyard
A couple of inches of snow layered tables in Wrightwood Nov. 21, 2019.
Toni Guinyard
Wrightwood will make you feel merry and bright Nov. 21, 2019.
Snow Sports PR/John Brice
Snow blanketed Snow Valley Mountain Resort in Running Springs on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019.
Alex Vasquez
Caltrans asked drivers to use extra caution in mountain areas. Here is a view of snow covered roads in Mount Baldy on Wednesday. Nov. 20, 2019.
NBCLA
A screengrab from our Big Bear Camera shows the first significant snowfall of the year on Wednesday Nov. 20, 2019.
BBMR
Footsteps appear in the snow in Big Bear in March 2019.
BBMR
A view of Big Bear Mountain Resort in March 2019.
AP
A crowd of skiers is seen Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Wrightwood, Calif. A winter storm swept through the Southwest and brought a rare snowfall to the Las Vegas Strip and the mountains above Malibu in California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP
Visitors gather at a sledding hill in the aftermath of a snow storm Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Wrightwood, Calif. A winter storm swept through the Southwest and brought a rare snowfall to the Las Vegas Strip and the mountains above Malibu in California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP
Visitors play in the snow Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Wrightwood, Calif. A winter storm swept through the Southwest and brought a rare snowfall to the Las Vegas Strip and the mountains above Malibu in California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP
A visitor sits on a park bench under a snow-covered landscape Friday, Feb. 22, 2019, in Wrightwood, Calif. A winter storm swept through the Southwest and brought a rare snowfall to the Las Vegas Strip and the mountains above Malibu in California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Ron Lyon
The view from Long Beach Harbor to Mount Baldy in February 2019.
Victoria Wood
A view of Lake Arrowhead in February 2019.
Victoria Wood
Lake Arrowhead after another fresh coat of snow.
WESH
Snow cover the Acton area north of Los Angeles Thursday Feb. 21, 2019.
Toni Guinyard/KNBC-TV
Snow cover the Acton area north of Los Angeles Thursday Feb. 21, 2019.
AP
FILE - This Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 file photo shows California's mountains glistening with snow behind the Los Angeles skyline and homes above a normally-brown hillside. In just a matter of weeks, a very wet winter has greatly reduced drought conditions in California as a series of storms coated mountains with heavy blankets of snow and unleashed drenching rains. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019 that about a third of the state has no significant dryness and only about 10 percent of the state falls into categories of drought. (AP Photo/Damian Doverganes, File)
michael Freitas
Snow in Idyllwild.
AP
Michael Monsivais, left, makes a snow man with the help of his girlfriend Torrie Martinez at Fort Tejon State Historic Park, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, in Lebec, Calif. A series of winter storms socked the U.S west with unusual snow also falling in Hawaii and parts of Southern California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP
A young visitor walks along a snow covered trail Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, near Lebec, Calif. A series of winter storms socked the U.S west with unusual snow also falling in Hawaii and parts of Southern California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP
Traffic makes its away along Interstate 5, Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, near Gorman, Calif. A series of winter storms socked the U.S west with unusual snow falling in Hawaii and parts of Southern California. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
AP
Fresh snow coats Mount Wilson above Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, after the latest in a series of storms that have given California a very wet winter. The National Weather Service said rainfall in January for downtown Los Angeles was 191 percent of normal. (AP Photo/John Antczak)
Mt. Baldy Fire Department
A snowy lane on Mt. Baldy following a February snowfall.
Kimi Caldwell
Snow-capped mountains are seen behind palm trees in Orange.
Tony Shin/KNBC-TV
Pictured Feb. 6, 2019, these snow-capped peaks above Corona and Lake Elsinore were shrouded in smoke from the Holy Fire in August.
Thomas Pompeo
After sunrise at Mono Lake, Tufa State Natural Reserve Jan. 31, 2019.
Jared Meyer
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Mammoth Mountain Resort
That's a car under all that powder. Only the windshield wipers are popping up through the snow.
Scott Paul
A view of snow in the mountains as seen looking north from La Habra Jan. 13, 2019.
Shaeba Mathew
A view of an icy Big Bear Lake on Jan. 1, 2019.
Shaeba Mathew
A view of an icy Big Bear Lake on Jan. 1, 2019.
Big Bear Mountain Resort
Big Bear Mountain Resort is pictured at sunrise Friday Nov. 30, 2018 after a day of snowfall in Southern California's mountains.
NBC 7 San Diego
Big Bear Mountain Resort is pictured at sunrise Friday Nov. 30, 2018 after a day of snowfall in Southern California's mountains.
Tony Shin/KNBC-TV
NBC4's Tony Shin captured this fresh coast of snow in Big Bear Sunday Feb. 26, 2017.
Ricky Bonilla
A break between January storms provided an opportunity to dig out in Big Bear Monday Jan. 23, 2017.
Brian Johnson
A dusting of snow in the mountains, as seen from the Sand Canyon area Monday Jan. 23, 2017.
Kathy
Sugarloaf Snow Day Sugarloaf, Big Bear City
Bob Torrez/Snow Valley
A machine shovels snow at the Snow Valley Mountain Resort in the San Bernardino Mountain community of Running Springs on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017.
Bob Torrez/Snow Valley
People are spotted skiing down a hill at the Snow Valley Mountain Resort in the San Bernardino Mountain community of Running Springs on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017.
Johnny Blue
Little French bulldog Dinho exploring for his first time in snow at Big Bear.
Johnny Blue
A trail leading to Snow Summit in Big Bear
KNBC-TV
A fresh coating of snow Monday Nov. 21, 2016 in Big Bear.
Rod Hewitt
A view of snowcapped mountains from the high desert north of Los Angeles.
A fresh coating of snow Monday Nov. 21, 2016 in Big Bear.
A Taylor Peck
A blanket of snow covers Lake Arrowhead on March 30, 2016.
W Taylor Peck
A tree is covered in snow on March 30, 2016 after a line of storms blew through Southern California, dumping a lot of fresh powder on the mountains.
W Taylor Peck
Residents living in the area say it doesn't snow a lot this late in the year.
W Taylor Peck
A serene image after a storm hits Southern California on March 29, 2016, leaving areas like Lake Arrowhead and Wrightwood with snow.
Toni Guinyard, KNBC-TV
Snow caps the mountains north of Los Angeles after an early March 2016 storm.
Lynne Tucker
Snow in the Southern California mountains after an early March 2016 storm.
dj
Snow blanketed Forest Falls after a March 2016 storm.
AP
A light coating of snow on the San Gabriel Mountains in January 2016.
Lynn Tucker
Lynne Tucker sent this photo of snow dotting the mountains near Palm Springs.
James Win
James Win sent in this photo of a winter wonderland in Lake Arrowhead on January 7, 2016.
Pat Durkin
Pat Durkin sent a pano view of snow-capped mountains.
Debbie Callin
Debbie Callin sent us this image of snow in the mountains as seen from Banning Jan. 6, 2016.
Rick Flanders
Rick Flanders provided this image of snow in Idyllwild on Jan. 6, 2016.
KNBC-TV
Snow Summit snow in January 2016.
Martha Castro
View from Fontana, Jan. 8, 2015.
Toni Guinyard
A nice dusting of snow in Wrightwood Nov. 21, 2019.
Toni Guinyard
Wrightwood is looking like a winter wonderland Nov. 21, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Dakota Snider/ Visit Mammoth
After two more feet of snow fell over the weekend, Mammoth Mountain was completely open top-to-bottom, with the most skiable acres currently open in the country, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
Flood Advisories were issued for Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties.
The storm was powerful enough to drop record rain in some areas, including the Long Beach Airport, where 1.03" fell.
Late Wednesday, unusual tornado warnings were also issued due to rotating thunderstorms within the line of rain.
A tornado warning was issued for parts of Santa Barbara County until 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, and was later canceled as the storm weakened in the area.
A second tornado warning was issued for western Orange County around midnight Thursday morning, but was canceled shortly afterward as the storm eased, leaving behind heavy rainfall.
It’s been snowing all morning at the Cajon Pass and the I-15 looks completely deserted. The southbound lanes are open with minimum traffic but the northbound traffic is completely shutdown with lines of truck and cars that go for miles. Take precautions and get updates @NBCLApic.twitter.com/0XjutCz4MR
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the mountains, including the Grapevine and Cajon Pass, until Thursday night with snow totals of 3 to 24 inches possible, depending on elevation. Travel through the major mountain passes will be difficult or impossible, and drivers are urged to stay off the roads or take alternate routes if possible.
Those that must be on the roads are asked to be prepared, pack plenty of patience and drive safely. Chains will be needed if driving into the mountains, but meteorologist David Biggar said the best time to head to the mountains will be after the storm, possibly Friday or the weekend.
Part of the 5 Freeway near downtown LA was closed due to flooding. Darsha Philips reports for Today in LA on Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
Road closures were prompted very early Thursday due to the snow and flooding.
Highway 138 between Phelan and the 15 Freeway was closed due to heavy snow.
High Desert residents will be waking up to snow over the desert floor Thursday.
This storm clears out Friday morning, followed by a return to normal temperatures and sunshine over the weekend.
Nora Kuntz
A view of snowy mountains as seen from Cabazon.
Michael Zingerman
A view of snow in Rose Valley after a December 2019 winter storm.
Alberto Zuniga
A little snow adds some winter magic to this holiday yard display in Palmdale.
NBCLA
A view of snowfall early Thursday Dec. 26, 2019 in the high desert.
Toni Guinyard/NBCLA
A winter storm brings snow to the Acton area Thursday Dec. 26 ,2019.
Toni Guinyard/NBCLA
A winter storm brings snow to the Acton area Thursday Dec. 26 ,2019.
Toni Guinyard/NBCLA
A winter storm brings snow to the Acton area Thursday Dec. 26 ,2019.
Angelina Baray
A winter storm leaves behind a post-Christmas scene in Anza.
NBCLA
NewsChopper4 provides a view of snow-capped mountains as seen from the San Gabriel Valley Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
Armando Aparicio
Snow forced the closure of the 15 Freeway through the Cajon Pass Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
Caltrans
Caltrans
A view of traffic in the Cajon Pass Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
Filiberto Galvan
Armando Aparicio/NBCLA
The view from the Cajon Pass between the 15 and 138 freeways Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
NBCLA
Drivers face snowy conditions in the Cajon Pass Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
Alex Vasquez/NBCLA
A view of snowy mountains in the Cajon Pass Thursday Dec. 26, 2019.
JuMe You
Conditions were ideal for snowmen in Palmdale Thursday Dec. 29, 2019.
NBCLA
Traffic stops on an icy 14 Freeway north of LA Friday Dec. 27, 2019.
Barbara Hernandez
Snow-covered mountains and clouds in SoCal.
boun sayasy
A view Pioneertown looking toward Big Bear.
