Snow briefly closes 5 Freeway at Tejon Pass summit

Snow fell earlier than expected Monday afternoon on the 5 Freeway at the Tejon Pass, prompting the California Highway Patrol to hold traffic in the Grapevine area.

“We are currently holding traffic for the #Grapevine area of I-5 in Castaic (northbound) and Grapvine Road (southbound) and escorting the residual traffic through to the other side,” the CHP’s Fort Tejon office said on Twitter.

About two hours later, CHP started escorting traffic over the Grapevine, allowing traffic to start moving despite snowy conditions.

The National Weather Service in Oxnard cautioned drivers that the snow was starting to stick in the Tejon Pass area and that it would probably continue falling until 7 p.m.

There should be a break in the snow this evening, but additional snow showers are expected through Tuesday, the weather service said. Two to 3 inches of snowfall is possible along Interstate 5 above 3,000 feet, including near Gorman and Lebec.

CHP’s Ventura County office announced Monday afternoon that, because of the winter storm, chains are now required on State Route 33 from Pine Mountain to Lockwood Valley Road.

“No Exceptions!” the office said in a tweet.

Caltrans District 7 said that if the storm were to shut down the 5 Freeway, State Route 33 would also be closed from Pine Mountain to Lockwood Valley Road.