The Santa Clarita Valley experienced its final snow day at the end of the winter storm traveling through on Wednesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, parts of the Santa Clarita Valley experienced snow and hail in the midst of the 46-degree weather, although the snow didn’t “stick” at the lower elevations.
Interstate 5 north of the SCV was closed once more due to snow on Wednesday, but by late Wednesday afternoon it had reopened, initially with the California Highway Patrol providing escorts between Castaic and Grapevine.
“Lowering snow levels at lower elevations earlier in the day have resulted in a few spots where we are getting snow,” said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
According to Wofford, the snow and showers will mark the end of the winter storm that Santa Clarita has been experiencing since last week.
“We’re at the tail end of it,” said Wofford.
Wednesday’s forecast for Santa Clarita, according to the NWS, was for a 20% chance of showers, a high nearing 46 degrees, breezy with winds of around 20 mph and gusts as high as 25 mph.
The NWS forecasted that SCV would experience areas of frost after 10 p.m. Wednesday and a low of 31 degrees Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Wind chill values were expected to be as low as 20 degrees.
Santa Clarita was under a wind advisory by the NWS until 4 p.m. on Wednesday and a cold weather alert was issued by the Los Angeles County Health Officer from Thursday until Monday. At the time of this publication, an end time for the alert is undetermined.
The alert is due to low temperatures and wind chill temperatures being expected to be below 32 degrees.
County health officials offered a caution for those especially sensitive to more severe temperatures on the dates of the cold weather alerts.
“Children, the elderly and people with disabilities or special medical needs are especially vulnerable during cold weather,” said Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County health officer. “Extra precaution should be taken to ensure they don’t get too cold when they are outside.”
The following are some precautions people can take to prevent themselves and others from the cold: dressing in layers, wearing a hat, scarf, gloves and socks, bringing pets indoors and checking in on those with limited mobility and/or access to heat.
“People exposed to cold weather for prolonged periods can lose body heat and develop hypothermia,” according to the county’s alert.
Early symptoms of hypothermia can include shivering, fatigue, loss of coordination, confusion and disorientation.
It is also advised for individuals to not use stoves, barbecues or ovens as a source of heat due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to Caltrans’ Road Information website, the following roads were closed Wednesday as a result of the weather:
- Interstate 5 was closed from 3 miles north of the junction of State Route 126 at Parker Road to the Los Angeles/Kern County line/the Grapevine due to snow.
- Northbound traffic has been reduced to three lanes 9.7 miles north of Santa Clarita at Templin Highway due to a mudslide.
Motorists have been advised to use an alternate route.
Los Angeles County residents and business owners, including people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, can call 2-1-1 or visit www.211la.org for emergency preparedness information and other referral services, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. For the deaf and hard of hearing, call the TDD line at 1-800-660-4026.
