UPDATE: (3:45 p.m.) All lanes of the I-5 Freeway have once again been closed Monday afternoon, after a storm that hit the Santa Clarita Valley Sunday night brought snow to the Grapevine, officials said.

As of 3:45 p.m. Monday, the northbound I-5 Freeway remained closed at Parker Rd near Castaic, with southbound lanes blocked at Grapevine Road due to heavy snow, according to Caltrans.

TRAFFIC ALERT: FULL CLOSURE of I-5 reinstated, northbound from Parker Rd in Castaic and southbound at Grapevine Rd due to heavy snow. Avoid area and seek alternate routes. Duration unknown. Check https://t.co/NBeQFoO0lp for latest road conditions. pic.twitter.com/CgNeRPgans

— Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) January 25, 2021

Due to the impact of winter weather, officials with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) have implemented “Operation Snowflake,” to ensure the safety of travelers and reduce the risk caused by travelling through the Grapevine.

“Because of this, Operation Snowflake has been implemented for the duration of the storm,” reads an official post from the office Saturday. “In the event I-5 is deemed unsafe for passage, CHP and Caltrans have contingency plans in place to deploy personnel to facilitate detours.”

With the Grapevine closed, motorists have several alternate routes they can take:

• Northbound travellers
  • Take the northbound US-101 to the eastbound State Route 166, then onto the northbound I-5
  • Take the northbound 14 Freeway to the westbound State Route 58, then onto the northbound State Route 99
• Southbound traveller
  • Take the westbound State Route 166 to the southbound US-101
  • Take the southbound State Route 99 to the eastbound State Route 58, then onto the southbound 14 Freeway.

“Note, alternate routes are subject to closure with short/zero notice,” Saturday’s post reads. “Therefore, it is imperative that motorists verify the status of their route(s), prior to travel.”

Another storm is expected to arrive Wednesday, with some officials predicting it to be the strongest of the three predicted for the area.

Ed. Note: This story will be updated should the Grapevine be closed.

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