UPDATED 11AM FRIDAY 2/22
RIVERSIDE (CNS) - A cold air mass lingering over the Inland Empire
this morning prompted the National Weather Service to issue a freeze warning this morning for areas west of the mountains.
The freeze warning, which applied to the entire Inland Empire, expired at 9 a.m. today (Friday). Temperatures in some areas of the inland valleys dropped into the upper 20s this morning, forecasters said.
The Coachella Valley wasn't included in the advisory, but temperatures there were in the mid-30s this morning.
A freeze warning signifies sub-freezing temperatures will kill crops and other sensitive vegetation and could harm outdoor pets and livestock.
NWS officials warned that roads could also be icy in spots.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday (Thursday), a low-pressure storm system had dropped 10 inches of snow in Idyllwild over the past two days. Big Bear’s has a foot-and-a-half of new snow. The Banning Bench got 3 inches by noon yesterday.
Snow was reported falling in various places around the Inland Valleys yesterday. The CHP had to escort vehicles on the southbound 15 freeway from Hesperia over the Cajon Pass for a time yesterday morning, because of snow and ice on the road surface.
In the San Bernardino County mountains, Highway 18 remains closed from Snow Valley to Big Bear Dam, due to damage from rockslides from last week’s rainstorm. Highway 38 from Redlands to Big Bear is closed, due to avalance danger. As of Friday morning, the only way drivers can access Big Bear is from Highway 18 in Victorville.
Other local road information, as of late Friday morning:
-- SR-74 remains closed from Valle Vista at Borco to Mountain Center.
However, SR-74 (Palms to Pines Highway, low desert, Anza) from Lake Hemet to
Mountain Center and Idyllwild is open to residents, cabin occupants, and
business owners/employees only.
-- The CHP is staffing a checkpoint on SR-74 near Lake Hemet through
Sunday evening to ensure only residents, cabin occupants, and business
owners/employees have access to the Idyllwild-Pine Cove and Mountain Center
areas. Motorists must provide proof of residency, occupancy, ownership, rental,
etc.
-- SR-243 remains closed from I-10 to Idyllwild due to extensive
damage and roadway loss from recent storms.
Information regarding travel conditions, road closures, and chain controls can be found online at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.
Officials from Caltrans District 8 remind motorists who are attempting to get into other mountain communities to bring chains.
