FRAZIER PARK, SUN., JAN. 6, posted 12:30 p.m.

A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM PST
MONDAY FOR THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS.

VERY COLD AIR HAS MOVED INTO THE REGION AS SNOW LEVELS LOWERED
THIS MORNING TO AROUND 4000 FEET AND MAY CONTINUE TO DROP TO
AROUND 3500 FEET BY TONIGHT. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL PASS TO
THE SOUTH OF KERN COUNTY AND WILL PROVIDE PLENTY OF MOISTURE FOR
SNOW ACROSS THE REGION. A FEW SNOW SHOWERS WILL OCCUR TODAY AS THE
COLD AIR SETTLES IN...THEN BY TONIGHT...AS THE STORM MAKES ITS WAY
INTO THE AREA...SNOW WILL BEGIN TO PICK UP AND BECOME VERY HEAVY
AT TIMES. THE FORECAST AMOUNTS ABOVE 5000 FEET WILL BE FROM 6 TO
11 INCHES WITH LOCALLY HEAVIER AMOUNTS AT FRAZIER PARK AND CUDDY
VALLEY...WHERE SNOWFALL AMOUNTS COULD BE OVER A FOOT.

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS AT PASS LEVEL WILL BE FROM 2 TO 6 INCHES ON
INTERSTATE 5 OVER THE GRAPEVINE AND HIGHWAY 58 OVER TEHACHAPI
PASS...WITH SOME POSSIBLY HIGHER AMOUNTS.

WINDS WILL BE A CONCERN THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY TODAY AS
SUSTAINED SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO
50 MPH WILL AFFECT THE KERN COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND PASSES THIS
AFTERNOON. SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL BE A CONCERN FOR PRIMARILY
DURING THE DAY...AS WINDS ARE FORECAST TO WEAKEN TONIGHT AS THE
VERY HEAVY SNOW BEGINS AROUND MIDNIGHT.

A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE
LIMITED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW. USE
CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS.

PERSONS SHOULD CURTAIL THEIR TRAVEL PLANS IF POSSIBLE. BE
PREPARED FOR WINTRY DRIVING CONDITIONS AS ROADS MAY EITHER BE
CLOSED OR REQUIRE CHAINS DURING THIS TIME. PLEASE CHECK AHEAD TO
DETERMINE TRAVEL PLANS BY CALLING 1 800 427 ROAD.

Frazier Park residents below the burn area of the July 2006 Scott fire are asked to be prepared to evacuate in case the rains become heavy. Kern County Fire Department Public Information Officer Sean Collins told The Mountain Enterprise on Wednesday, Dec. 5, “Have an evacuation route and have a plan to meet with family members at a predetermined location. Remember that six inches of water can stall a vehicle when driving and that two feet of water can carry a vehicle away.”

Sandbags are being distributed at these local fire stations:
Lebec Fire Station 56, 1548 Golden State Highway Lebec, 93243
Frazier Park Fire Station 57, 729 West End Drive Frazier Park, 93225
Pine Mountain Fire Station 58, 2420 Symonds Drive Pine Mountain Club, 93222

[View/download Frazier Park flood area map]
[View/download Cuddy Creek homes flood area map][View/download Kern County flood safety brochure Page One][View/download Kern County flood safety brochure Page Two]

Collins added, “Residents should remember, if it looks bad, it probably is. If in doubt, get out.”

The period of heaviest precipitation is expected to be from Thursday night through Saturday, however, a lingering chance of snow showers may persist over Kern County into Sunday, with winds between 25 and 50 miles per hour. Snow accumulation may exceed several inches, according to the report. If the forecast changes significantly, a notice will posted on www.MountainEnterprise.com.

This is part of the January 04, 2008 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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