Weather Advisory Over, Grapevine Open

  • Linda Curtis of Frazier Park, a trained Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service, took this photo Saturday, Nov. 28 of the snowfall that came during the night. Her measurements show that the four inches of snow translated to .45 inch of much-needed precipitation.

    Linda Curtis of Frazier Park, a trained Weather Spotter for the National Weather Service, took this photo Saturday, Nov. 28 of the snowfall that came during the night. Her measurements show that the four inches of snow translated to .45 inch of much-needed precipitation.

UPDATE (Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, 6 a.m.)—About four inches of snow fell during the early morning hours Saturday from Lebec through Pine Mountain, with low temperatures in the 20s to 30s in the Mountain Communities, but traffic on the Grapevine has not been interrupted during this Thanksgiving holiday. The Interstate 5 is open.

Linda Curtis, a trained Weather Spotter who reports to the NWS said her "melt-down" measure from a four inch cylinder of snow was .45 inch of precipitation on Saturday.

The Winter Weather Advisory from the National Weather Service is now over.

UPDATE (Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, 7:25 a.m.)—A wet, sticky snow has fallen across the Mountain Communities area. The Grapevine is open but California Highway Patrol escorts are being used intermittently and sanding is taking place on the road. Here are important "know before you go" telephone numbers:
Caltrans Interstate 5 Information (800) 427-7623
Pine Mountain Club road conditions (661) 242-4017
Forest Service Roads (661) 245-3731
Mount Pinos Ranger District  (661) 245-3731
 

FRAZIER PARK (Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, 11 am.)—A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service out of Sacramento for the Kern County Mountains. The alert is now in effect for conditions anticipated from 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28 according to the National Weather Service.

A cold Pacific weather system will move into the Kern County mountains this evening and affect the area into Saturday night. At pass level, the precipitation will start out as rain this evening and then, as colder air arrives overnight, it will change over to snow with the snow level falling to the 4000 to 4500 feet. NWS said.

Snow amounts are not expected to be heavy and forecast accumulations should not exceed 1 to 2 inches. Llight forecast snow amounts along Interstate 5 may sometimes cause major traffic problems. In addition to snow and slippery roads, gusty winds and reduced visibility in clouds and fog can make travel hazardous.

A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow can cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for slippery roads and limited
visibility and use caution while driving

This is part of the November 27, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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