CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile device The next in a series of early February storms that have boosted rainfall totals across Northern California is expected to blanket Bay Area mountains with snow. A “very cold air mass” will lower snow levels in the Bay Area to about 1,000 feet Monday night and into Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The highest Bay Area peaks could accumulate between 6 and 9 inches of snow, and commuters who rely on Highway 17 (with a summit of 1,870 feet) may encounter a dusting of snow Tuesday morning. “There’s a good chance of having snow on the road on Highway 17,” said Steve Anderson, a meteorologist with the weather service. Monday afternoon, there was already reports of snow sticking at Mt. Hamilton, Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tamalpais. The weather service warned of “potential hazardous driving conditions” on Highways 35, 9, 17, 29, 130 and 198 and other mountain roads and passes. In the North Bay Mountains, East Bay Hills and Santa Cruz Mountains, 2 to 4 inches of snow is possible above 1,000 feet, with 4 to 8 inches possible in these areas above 2000 feet. “We have so little snow usually that most of our drivers aren’t prepared for it,” California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Sam Courtney said. “By not prepared, I mean most of them don’t carry chains, they don’t have items to clear the windshield, etc. If they don’t have the equipment they need, I’d just advise them to avoid traveling if they can.” Rainfall totals in the Bay Area from the upcoming storm are forecast to range from one-quarter to one-half of an inch, according to the weather service. The last time there was an accumulation of snow near sea level in San Francisco occurred on Feb. 5, 1976, according to Golden Gate Weather Services. The storm did not cause any threats to flooding along the Uvas Creek in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Storms that soaked the Bay Area this past weekend boosted rainfall totals across the region. San Jose, which often falls victim to a rain-shadow effect courtesy of the Santa Cruz mountains, received 1.9 inches of rain during a 72-hour period ending Monday at 2 p.m., more than San Francisco and Oakland, according to preliminary data from the National Weather Service. Los Gatos received the biggest soaking over a 72-hour period, with 4.2 inches falling, according to the NWS. Other 72-hour rainfall inch totals across the Bay Area included: Kentfield 3.66, Napa 1.93, Redwood City 2.3, San Francisco 1.66, Livermore 1.55, Palo Alto 1.4, Hayward 1.2, Concord 1.3. Oakland received 1 inch. Rainfall totals across Northern California continue to creep closer to average for this time of year. Through Sunday at 6 p.m., rainfall totals for the water year which began Oct. 1 include Redding at 21.24 inches (109 percent of normal), Santa Rosa at 19.23 inches (90 percent), San Francisco 12.22 inches (88 percent), Oakland 9.42 inches (81 percent) and San Jose 7.42 inches (87 percent). Monday, the statewide Sierra Nevada snow pack level — a key source of California’s summer water supply — increased to 115 percent of its historical average, up from 69 percent on New Year’s Day. And with a blizzard warning in effect through Monday at 10 p.m., that percentage is likely to increase. “The encouraging thing is, compared to last year, we’re doing significantly better,” said Jan Null, a meteorologist with Golden Gate Weather Services. “The pattern for the next week, we’re certainly not going to flip into a dry pattern. There will be a few dry days after tomorrow, but then it looks like we’re back into a wet pattern.” At this time last year, the Sierra Nevada snowpack was just 26 percent of normal. A series of late-season storms in late February and March boosted the Sierra Nevada snowpack to 54 percent of normal on April 1, considered by state water managers to be the end of the rainy/winter season. Through Sunday, most of the state’s major reservoirs had water levels at or above their historical averages for this time of year. Rain showers are expected throughout the Bay Area on Monday, with a potential for isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon, according to the weather service. Monday at 8:55 a.m., the weather service issued a flood advisory for the Carmel River in Monterey County, warning that “heavy rain overnight has resulted in rapid rises” and flooding is imminent. At 8:15 a.m., water levels on the Carmel River were at 7.59 feet; the flood stage is 8.5 feet. Heavy rain overnight has resulted in rapid rises on the #CarmelRiver. Emergency Management officials indicate imminent flooding along the Carmel River near Robles del Rio. A Flood Advisory is in effect until 11:30 am. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/Lu16xmobq7 — NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) February 4, 2019 Rain over the weekend caused a handful of mudslides and road closures across the Bay Area. In Fremont, Niles Canyon Road was briefly closed early Monday morning because of “falling rocks and potential mudslide.” At 6:36 a.m., Fremont police reported the road was back open. But shortly after 12:30 p.m., the canyon was again closed in both directions, according to Fremont police. A mudslide in San Mateo County has blocked both lanes of Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard), about a half mile north of Castanea Ridge Road. County officials estimate the road will be closed for one week. SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA - FEBRUARY 2: A snow storm blanketed South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Ski resorts across the Sierra Nevada reported snowfall totals ranging from 12 to 35 inches from Friday through Sunday. More snow is expected to fall through Tuesday with snow levels around 1,500 feet. (Sarah Dussault/Bay Area News Group) SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA - FEBRUARY 2: Maddie Dussault catches snow flakes on her tongue as a snow storm blanketed South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, February 2, 2019. Ski resorts across the Sierra Nevada reported snowfall totals ranging from 12 to 35 inches from Friday through Sunday. More snow is expected to fall through Tuesday with snow levels around 1,500 feet. (Sarah Dussault/Bay Area News Group) SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA - FEBRUARY 3: Fresh snow from a weekend storm covered the rocks along U.S. 50 on Sunday, February 3, 2019. Ski resorts across the Sierra Nevada reported snowfall totals ranging from 12 to 35 inches from Friday through Sunday. More snow is expected to fall through Tuesday with snow levels around 1,500 feet. (Sarah Dussault/Bay Area News Group) Monday morning, the weather service reported that the Sierra Nevada was experiencing “heavy snowfall” with accumulation rates up to 3 inches an hour. A blizzard warning is in effect through Monday at 10 p.m. Ski resorts across the Sierra Nevada reported snowfall totals ranging from 12 to 35 inches from Friday through Sunday. More snow is expected to fall through Tuesday, and the weather service warned that travel through the Sierra Nevada will be “nearly impossible at times.” Monday at 10 a.m., the California Highway Patrol reported that Interstate 80 was closed from Colfax to the Nevada state line. Staff writers George Avalos and Jason Green contributed to this report.<doc-sep>Southern Californians can expect rain through Tuesday, but the National Weather Service said showers will be much weaker than Saturday's storm that triggered mudslides, road closures and power outages. A steady but light-to-moderate rain will move across the area through Tuesday, said meteorologist Keily Delerne with the Los Angeles forecast office. Rain rates will stay below half an inch per hour, the office forecast, so shallower minor debris flows may be possible in the Woolsey and Hill fire burn areas. The high ground saturation from the heavy rains the past couple days, Delerne said, poses more risk than the intensity. "If you have continuous rain for a long period of time, the grounds can only absorb so much," Delerne said. "So, flooding is definitely a concern." The Weather Prediction Center predicted flash flooding and debris flow risk on Monday and Monday night in burn scar areas. Winds knocked down power lines in Santa Barbara County on Saturday and reached 89 mph in Los Angeles County, Delerne said, but weakened by Sunday morning. Speeds slowed to 40 mph or below and are expected to diminish further, the National Weather Service said. The storm also was to blame for the death of 50-year-old Jeff Dye, a search-and-rescue team member who was killed in a crash on wet roads on Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County. The crash injured nine other people, including two other team members. More:Insurance claims from deadly 2018 California wildfires top $11.4B More:Rapper Soulja Boy 'thankful to be alive' after car is trapped in California mudslide A minivan carrying a family was traveling too fast for the wet conditions, lost control and plowed into members of the team, Los Angeles County fire Capt. Tony Imbrenda said. “This is a very unfortunate situation that could’ve been avoided,” Imbrenda said, warning motorists to slow down in the rain. In Northern California, the Weather Prediction Center said the storm will bring heavy snow in the Sierras through Tuesday morning. Contributing: Doyle Rice and Dalvin Brown, USA TODAY<doc-sep>
Rams fans won’t have Southern California’s blue skies and sunshine to comfort them after the team’s 13-3 Super Bowl loss to New England on Sunday. Scattered showers and snow in the mountains are expected throughout the Southland through Tuesday night as back-to-back cold troughs of low pressure move over the area, according to the National Weather Service. Rams far from super in 13-3 loss to Patriots » By noon, the heaviest rains had passed through Ventura and Los Angeles counties and a flash flood warning issued from Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills to Pacific Coast Highway had been lifted. PCH was closed for several hours in both directions from Broad Beach Road to Las Posas Road in Ventura County because of debris flowing into the roadway, according to the city of Malibu. The road reopened about 1:30 p.m. Flooding on #PCH Pacific Coast Hwy/ SR-1 north of Broad Beach Rd in #Malibu #Caltrans is working 24/7 to clear mud and storm debris If your street or highway is flooded -- Turn Around, Don't Drown! pic.twitter.com/xCIsXSNQsy — Caltrans District 7 (@CaltransDist7) February 4, 2019 Half an inch to 1 inch of rain was expected across the coasts and valleys, while 2 to 3 inches were predicted along the southern slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains, forecasters said. Magic Mountain in Valencia closed at 2 p.m. because of the rain. The weather service issued a winter storm warning for the Los Angeles and Ventura County mountains through Wednesday, with more than a foot of snow forecast above 7,000 feet and 2 to 4 inches expected above 4,500 feet. Snowfall could affect the 5 Freeway along the Grapevine area of the Tejon Pass and Highway 14 in the Antelope Valley, meteorologists said. Snow levels were expected to range from 4,500 to 5,500 feet Monday before dropping to a level of 3,000 to 3,500 feet that night into Tuesday, according to the weather service. The local snow level could be as low as 2,500 feet, with some snowfall along the Antelope Valley foothills Tuesday morning. Several ski resorts in the Eastern Sierra and Tahoe — including June Mountain in June Lake and Mammoth Mountain in Mammoth Lakes — closed part or all of their operations Monday because of a blizzard that dropped as much as 9 feet of snow. It's officially a blizzard here in Mammoth with another 7-10" of snow since 6AM. Main Lodge is closed due to blizzard conditions as is June Mountain. Travel is not advised. Current storm total: 58-81" and counting. pic.twitter.com/6dOm5VgH5S — MammothMountain (@MammothMountain) February 4, 2019 In Northern California, westbound traffic on Interstate 80 was being turned around at the border with Nevada due to whiteout conditions at Donner Summit, according to the California Department of Transportation. Eastbound traffic was being turned around at Applegate in Placer County. Caltrans said there was no estimated time for the interstate’s reopening. Topanga Canyon Boulevard remained closed due to a mudslide. Northbound traffic on the 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights was stopped around 6 a.m. because of a rock slide but reopened around 7:30 a.m. Westbound traffic on the 210 was stopped early Monday after a van hit the center median. The two right lanes were open, but the carpool lanes and two left lanes remained closed longer while crews cleaned up a fuel spill from the crash, according to Caltrans. On Highway 1 near Big Sur’s slide areas, the road was set to remain closed through at least Tuesday because of rainstorms, Caltrans announced. A rock slide also closed Highway 150 between Ojai and Santa Paula, Caltrans said. The outlook improves for Southern California after Tuesday. “We should get some sun back Wednesday and Thursday,” said Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. But she said a new storm could arrive over the weekend. Friday was expected to be partly cloudy, the weather service forecast, and there was a 40% chance of rain Saturday and a 20% chance of rain that night. javier.panzar@latimes.com Twitter: @jpanzar