The National Weather Service issued a blizzard warning for the Los Angeles Mountains and Ventura County for the first time since 1989.
This is the second blizzard warning issued for the region’s mountains.
On February 8, 1989, a major weather system moved through southern California, leaving hundreds of drivers stranded in mountain passes and without power. Snow even fell in parts of the San Fernando Valley.
Friday’s weather system is expected to bring two to five feet of snow above 5,000 feet.
What are the necessary criteria for a blizzard warning?
- Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more.
- Snowfall or blizzard that reduces visibility to less than a quarter mile for 3 hours or more.
These conditions will create difficult or even impossible travel conditions.
The blizzard warning is in effect from Friday 4 a.m. to Saturday 4 p.m.
When a blizzard warning is issued, the concern is not only the amount of snowfall expected, but also the weather conditions that will occur.
One challenge is that snow levels will fluctuate. Snow levels are expected to reach 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet through Friday afternoon, but will drop rapidly to around 2,500 feet Saturday morning.
Some of the areas in the blizzard warning will see heavy snowfall, then heavy rain, then snow again as snow levels change.
Areas outside the blizzard warning – the San Bernardino Mountains, for example, are under a winter storm warning through Saturday.
Mountain travel is recommended to be avoided as conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly.