Mudslide closes northbound Interstate 5 over the Grapevine (now open)

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 9:10 p.m.)—Interstate 5 northbound lanes are open with traffic moving slowly, according to CHP.

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 7:23 p.m.)—CHP says northbound I-5 to be closed at Castaic.

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 7:05 p.m.)—Northbound I-5 vehicles are being diverted onto eastbound Highway 138 through Lancaster. If trying to continue north on I-5, motorists can take Highway 138 east then Highway 14 north, and Highway 58 into Bakersfield.

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 7:01 p.m.)—Vehicles are being routed off at Fort Tejon to use southbound onramp. They are backed up all the way over the bridge to the northbound onramp.

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 6:45 p.m.)—Caltrans and CHP have closed westbound Highway 138 transition to northbound I-5. Gorman Post Road is also closed, according to CHP, to prevent motorists from driving north on I-5 into the mudslide area.

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 5:32 p.m.)—The northbound lanes of Interstate 5 have been closed at Fort Tejon.

UPDATE–FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 5:16 p.m.)—Mud and debris in the roadway has been reported on northbound I-5 just north of Fort Tejon. Southbound lanes appear clear.

FRAZIER PARK, CA (Friday, May 6, 2016 at 4:59 p.m.)—The National Weather Service has issued the following Flash Flood Warning for the Mountain Communities of Lebec, Frazier Park, Grapevine, Lake of the Woods, Mt. Pinos and Lockwood Valley until 6:30 p.m. See the notice below.

FLASH FLOOD WARNING

BULLETIN –
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR… SOUTH CENTRAL KERN COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA…

* UNTIL 630 PM PDT

* LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS REPORTED THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING HEAVY RAIN NEAR THE GRAPEVINE AND LEBEC.

* FLASH FLOODING IS ALREADY OCCURRING.

* SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE… FRAZIER PARK…LEBEC…LAKE OF THE WOODS AND GRAPEVINE.

* EXCESSIVE RAINFALL OVER THE WARNED AREA WILL CAUSE MUD SLIDES NEAR STEEP TERRAIN.
THE MUD SLIDE CAN CONSIST OF ROCK…MUD…VEGETATION AND OTHER LOOSE MATERIALS.

* PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… TURN AROUND…DON’T DROWN WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS.
MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN VEHICLES.

* EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS…URBAN AREAS…HIGHWAYS…STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS…COUNTRY ROADS…FARMLAND…AND OTHER LOW LYING SPOTS.
A FLASH FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS IMMINENT OR OCCURRING.

* IF YOU ARE IN THE WARNED AREA MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND IMMEDIATELY.
RESIDENTS LIVING ALONG STREAMS AND CREEKS SHOULD TAKE IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

This is part of the May 6, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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