Get our latest storm report: Tens Of Thousands Are Without Power As Winter Storm Moves Through Region
We are bracing for an exceptionally cold and windy storm that could drop snow in places we don't normally see.
Southern Californians already spent the night listening to gusty winds knock around trees and loose items — now we're hearing a blizzard warning will be in effect for the mountains from Friday afternoon through Saturday.
So much snow is forecast that the National Weather Service is warning travelers to stay away from the mountains this weekend.
"This is a very significant storm ... we have not seen this kind of snow production from a storm since 1989," said Andrew Roarke, a meteorologist with the weather service. "So it's a very, very big storm. Some of the ski resort levels, up at Big Bear in those areas, they're gonna look at 5 feet of snow and maybe even to up to 7 feet of snow."
Eric Sund, the city manager of Big Bear, warned of the possibility of power outages. He said city employees are gearing up for the storm and that the local power utility, Bear Valley Electric Service, will have all hands on deck.
"They're calling all of their contractors, they're maintaining critical staffing levels so that everybody is prepared," he said. "Much like us — we're making sure all our vehicles and equipment are filled up with gas."
The National Weather Service has been warning for days that this may be the coldest storm the region has seen in years. That cold air mass is heading in from British Columbia and it could mean we see a sprinkling of snow as low as 1,000 feet in places like the Antelope Valley, Santa Clarita, and even Altadena.
The weather service warns conditions in California's waters will be outright dangerous, with waves along L.A. and Ventura counties reaching up to 16 feet high.
Wednesday (Feb. 22) we're expecting mild showers from the coast to the valleys, with rainfall rates up to 3 inches and snow levels dropping to 2,500 feet — low enough to affect major mountain passes like the Grapevine on Interstate 5 north of L.A.
Among the cautions from meteorologists:
Now is the time to prepare for a COLD AND DANGEROUS winter storm expected for much of the week. Several FEET of snow is expected in the mountains with a few inches possible as low as 1000 feet. Gusty and potentially damaging winds are also expected. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/2gMhuR1Xun
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 22, 2023
Marine conditions are expected to be VERY DANGEROUS both in terms of winds and waves through this week. It is not wise to be out on the water or at the beach. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/RXbTIBvyF1
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 22, 2023
The L.A. Fire Department shared tips with us on everything from good weather alert apps to download to what you can do to get your house ready — and where you can pick up sandbags.
Read more: A Storm Is Coming. LA Fire Officials Have These Tips On Getting Ready Now
The storm should peak between Friday and Saturday, before wrapping up by Sunday. But Mother Nature isn't done yet — there’s another storm anticipated mid-next week.
Larry Mantle, host of LAist 89.3's talk show AirTalk, discussed the coming conditions on Wednesday's program. His guests included a meteorologist, a climate scientist, and a Big Bear resort manager. Listen to their conversation:
*Traffic Alert*
— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) February 21, 2023
Snow, rain, high winds & low temps predicted Tuesday night through Saturday. May impact I-5 Grapevine/Tejon Pass, SR-14, SR-138, SR-58 & SR-33. @CaltransDist7 Maintenance crews will be on-duty 24/7 for duration of storm. Updates at https://t.co/O37QesJHpw. pic.twitter.com/ctLFRWseF9
We have more detailed guidance: Your Guide To Driving Safely In The Rain In LA (And Really Anywhere).
[View the document here if it doesn't load above for you: L.A. County winter shelters]
State law requires residential units to have heating systems that can keep indoor temperatures at a minimum of 70 degrees. That means every dwelling unit and guest room offered for rent or lease should offer heating equipment, usually central air conditioning (A/C) or a wall heater. — Caitlin Hernández
Use heat smartly to save money: Cranking things like the A/C and wall heaters can be expensive. If money is tight, be judicious about how and when you use your utilities. For example, only use heaters at night or only set the thermostat to around 70 degrees.
Open and close those vents: If you have central A/C, look at where the vents are around your home. Are any open in places where you don’t stay long? Practice opening and closing those so warm air only goes where you need it (most vents should have a small toggle lever). Humidifiers can also help you warm things up — and it’s useful to add moisture into our dry air.
Adjust your wall heaters: If you have a wall heater, you can change the output by adjusting the knob (usually at the bottom). Since wall heaters can only warm the areas where they’re placed, it’s essential to close doors to rooms you won’t be in so hot air doesn’t get wasted.
Turn on your ceiling fan (really): If you have a ceiling fan, try turning it on. This sounds counterintuitive, but there’s science behind it. The direction a fan turns can push air in different directions, and since hot air floats up, you’ll want to move that around. Your fan should spin clockwise to create an updraft to circulate. Not all fans will have this option, though.
Here's what you need to know when storms hit Southern California:
Jacob Margolis, who covers science, is reporting on weather conditions, including wind chill. Gillian Morán Pérez has been talking to the NWS. LAist Associate Editor Mike Roe is updating this digital story and adding additional information and context. Additional LAist staff, including Mike Flores, Susanne Whatley, and others are contributing.
