Schools let out early as snow puts damper on traffic
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — School officials in Tehachapi released students early from class Wednesday as snow fell, causing problems on the roads.
The snow stuck to the roads, and Eyewitness News received multiple reports of vehicles stuck on Banducci Road west of Highline Road. Among the stuck vehicles appeared to be a fire truck and two patrol cars that were responding to a crash.
A portion of Tehachapi Willow Springs Road, from Highline to Cameron, was also closed for poor driving conditions.
Interstate 5 over the Grapevine remained open, but the California Highway Patrol was conducting "round-robin" monitoring patrols.
The Kern River Valley only received snow flurries.
A rapid storm front moved through the area during mid-morning, bringing rain the to valley floor and snow to the Kern County mountains down to 3,000 feet. Showers are forecasted to end by late afternoon for the south valley, but snow flurries could linger into the evening due to a pile-up of clouds.
Temperatures Wednesday will be in the low to mid-50s for the south valley and mid-30s for the mountains.
Dry conditions are expected Thursday morning through Saturday.
Another storm system should arrive Sunday, but snow levels will only drop to around 4,500 feet.
Warmer temperatures, with the valley hitting the mid-70s, are expected to arrive next week.
