Winter Storm Warning in Effect; Laguna Mountains Get Heavy Snow

Updated at 9:45 a.m. April 14, 2012

Heavy snow fell Saturday on the Laguna Mountains as a mid-April winter storm blew down from the Arctic Circle and washed ashore in San Diego County.

California Highway Patrol officers reported heavy snow falling on Interstate 8 at the three summits near Pine Valley. The snow was reported to be heavy at midnight, and by 6:30 was accumulating on the freeway linking San Diego to the Imperial Valley.

A winter storm warning remained in effect until 2 p.m. for elevations above 3,500 feet. Between 2-4 inches were expected above that contour, which includes about 40 miles of Interstate 8 from Alpine east to Jacumba.

Chains were required on state Route 79 between Interstate 8 and the Sunrise Highway junction near Cuyamaca.

The U.S. Border Patrol reported its agents were assisting at several single-vehicle crashes on the freeway near its checkpoint at Buckman Springs Road. One car reportedly spun off old U.S. 80 near there.

Another car overturned further east, at the Tecate Divide.

In the mountains, snow showers were expected to continue into the
afternoon, before petering out at about nightfall. For the San Diego coastal
strip, partly cloudy, windy and cool conditions were forecast.

As of 6:45 a.m. Saturday, Caltrans and the Highway Patrol reported no restrictions on highways 78 or 79. Chain control was established Friday night on Sunrise Highway to Mount Laguna. A high wind advisory was still in effect Saturday morning for Interstate 8 from Alpine to the Imperial County border.

Snow showers are expected to continue through Saturday morning in the mountains and may linger into the afternoon. Snow levels were expected to be at about 3,500 feet, and were due to lift to 4,000 or 4,500 feet by Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. A total accumulation of up to 12 inches of snow can be expected above 4,500 feet.

Laguna Mountain Lodge reported Saturday morning that it was snowing and road conditions were poor. They advised people to bring chains. Six inches of snow was reported there.

Other areas expected to be affected include Julian, Cuyamaca and Ranchita.

West wind is expected to gust up to 50 mph.

Travel through the highest elevations of I-8 could be hazardous through the morning, the Weather Service warned.

To check latest highway conditions where you are traveling, see the Caltrans website  or call 800-427-7623.

City News Service contributed to this report.