5 Freeway through Grapevine closes again amid snow storm

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - California was hit with a brutal winter storm that made for dangerous driving conditions along the mountain passes, including on the 5 Freeway through the Grapevine Pass.

The coldest winter storm in years hit the region with snow levels dropping to 1,500 feet, with mountain communities in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, as well as the Inland Empire officially under a Blizzard Warning.  

(Getty Images)

The winter weather forced shutdowns at the Grapevine in both directions for most of the day Friday before reopening later that evening and then shutting down roads again Saturday. The closure is expected to last through 11 a.m. Sunday, according to CalTrans.

Officials recommend motorists use the 101 Freeway as an alternative route.

FOX 11’s Gigi Graciette was in Castaic where she observed hundreds of truck drivers on standby waiting for the freeway corridor to reopen.

"It was very hard because it was slushy and snowy. We had to be very careful. It was a single-file line," said trucker Julian Montoya. "I don’t think we went more than 30 mph."