Cold front moves into Southern California, brings rain and snow

CAJON PASS (KABC) -- Southern California residents are bracing for a new storm packed with gusty, cold winds, freezing temperatures, rain and record snow.

Snow clouds were seen moving into place as flurries fell in Wrightwood Friday. The mountain community is in the path of a winter storm.

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The snow shut down the I-5 through the Grapevine for hours Friday. Roads through the Grapevine were reported reopened after 11 p.m., but only with CHP escorts.

Steve Moreno is only one of many business owners who are looking forward to see what the storm has in store for the area.

"When people see snow they get excited and just come up here like crazy," Moreno said who owns Cinnamon's Bakery. "I've got hot chocolate, coffee, cinnamon rolls, and all the stuff we like in the snow time."

For Moreno, snowflakes equal dollar signs. "It's a perfect storm," he said.

The roads into Wrightwood were open as of Friday morning but depending on how low Mother Nature intends to go, the Cajon Pass could be impacted by snow or ice. The forecast is calling for the snow level to drop down to 2,500 feet. The San Bernardino County mountains remain under a winter storm warning. The higher elevations could get several inches of snow by the end of the day.

Belinda Vega works at the Shell gas station and Subway where the I-15 meets the 138 Highway.

"Our business booms so I'm hoping for a big storm," Vega said.

With some dark clouds overhead and snow in the forecast, Vega anticipates a busy day and night, knowing drivers may need to wait out the storm or get what they need in order to get up to Mountain High.

"We sell chains so people come in and purchase a lot of chains or they hang out, get a Subway, a soup, you know, do whatever they can," Vega said. "It turns into like a big parking lot out here."

The Cajon Pass was wide open as of Friday morning with traffic moving in both directions. But as a precaution, officials have shut down Angeles Forest Highway between Aliso Canyon Road to State Route 2. Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road is also shut between Angeles Forest Highway and State Route 2.

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Officials closed schools in the Rim of the World Unified School District Friday due to inclement weather.

The Los Angeles-Metro area and Orange County was expected to see scattered showers with temperatures in the 50s Friday.

As temperatures tumbled as rain and wind rolled through, lightening strikes were said to be the cause of a major power outage through Southern California Friday.

The power outage affecting the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, Cudahy, South Los Angeles and South Gate has left nearly 30,000 people without power.

A Southern California spokesperson said the outage, which was reported just before 10 a.m., has affected two Edison substations.

No injuries or accidents were reported in connection with the outage.

No information on when the power will be restored has been released but Edison said crews are working on the problem.

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