Storm Moves Out, Grapevine Section of 5 Freeway Reopens

Expect high winds Wednesday in mountain and desert areas after the overnight storm

A section of the 5 Freeway near Frazier Park was closed Wednesday morning after an overnight storm brought snow, ice and high winds to Southern California and led to another road closure north of Los Angeles.

The road reopened at about 9:30 a.m. after the morning closure, prompted by dangerous driving conditions after an overnight winter storm.

Snow and strong wind gusts were reported early Wednesday in the Frazier Park area. Crews responded to a big rig crash -- the cab and two trailers ended up on their sides -- near Lebec.

The closure came after a 60-mile stretch of highway between Los Angeles and Bakersfield was closed late Tuesday during the height of a winter storm. Authorities closed a portion of Highway 58 (map) because of snow and poor travel conditions.

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CHP officers escorted drivers off Highway 58 late Tuesday. The road reopened Wednesday.

The storm from the Gulf of Alaska brought the first significant rainfall to the region in several weeks, the National Weather Service said. Bear Valley Unified schools are closed Wednesday because of the weather.

Remnants of the storm are expected to move out of the region late Wednesday morning, but cold conditions will remain.

"It feels windy, brisky, cold, freezing -- like the air is coming from somewhere cold," said Robert Bitter, who was in Manhattan Beach early Wednesday.

Temperatures will remain at or below normal late this week, said NBC4 forecaster Elita Loresca.

Rain and snow were reported in the Inland Empire Wednesday morning. A winter weather advisory was extended until 6 a.m. for the region. 

Skies in the mountain and desert areas will clear Wednesday afternoon.
 
"A lot of the shower activity occurred overnight," said Loresca. "We're still dealing with lingering rain showers over the next couple of hours."

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