Cooler temperatures and rain are in the Santa Clarita weather forecast for the next week, bringing snow levels down to elevations that could affect the Grapevine. 

Starting Friday the first of three storms is expected to arrive in Santa Clarita, said Rich Thompson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.   

“The first chance of rain will be beginning (Friday) afternoon through Sunday morning, with the best chance of rain during the day Saturday,” Thompson said. 

The first storm is expected to bring light scattered showers, bringing at most one-quarter inch of rain, according to officials.  

The second storm forecasted for Santa Clarita is expected to arrive Sunday evening lasting through Tuesday bringing more significant amounts of rain, Thompson said. 

The storm arriving Sunday evening has the potential to bring up to one-half inch of precipitation, according to Thompson.    

A third storm is expected to arrive Wednesday, however, rainfall amounts are unknown as the storm is still developing, Thompson said. 

At this time of year, Santa Clarita should have received 6.3 inches of rainfall, however, prior to the upcoming storms the area have only received 1.95 inches as of Thursday, Thompson said.  

All three storms are set to bring cooler temperatures with daytime highs in the 50s and low snow elevations, according to officials.   

“Snow levels are dropping down with the potential for some winter weather watches for low mountain passes including the Grapevine,” Thompson said. 

In the event that snow does fall and stick in the Grapevine, officers with the California Highway Patrol, (CHP) Newhall Area Office are prepared to launch “Operation Snowflake,” said Officer Josh Greengard, spokesperson for the office. 

“We have been doing Operation Snowflake for years, we have it down well,” Greengard said. 

When snow falls in the Grapevine, the CHP closes the northbound 5 Freeway down at Parker Road in Castaic. 

In 2019, the California Department of Transportation, (CALTRANS) installed a gate in the center divider of the 5 Freeway just north of Lake Hughes Road.

See Related: New Grapevine Closure Gate On 5 Freeway Allows Drivers To Turn Around In Castaic

The gate gives motorists the option to either turn around on the freeway or exit at Parker Road, according to Greengard. 

The decision to close the 5 Freeway due to snowfall is made shortly prior to the closure, so Santa Clarita residents are urged to follow KHTS on Social media as well as on FM 98.1 and AM 1220 for up to date traffic conditions.  

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