Avalanche — Los Angeles County Mountains Excluding the Santa Monica Range, California

2008-01-25 · Los Angeles County Mountains Excluding the Santa Monica Range, California

Event narrative

Several avalanches occurred near the Mountain High Ski Resort in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles county. Three male skiers died as a result of the avalanches.

Wider weather episode

A very powerful winter storm brough significant weather to Central and Southern California. This storm produced several inches of rainfall across the area. The intense rainfall produced areas of flash flooding across Ventura and Los Angeles counties, including a mud and debris flow near the Griffith Park burn area. The storm brought in a significant amounts of cold air which lowered snow levels to around 2500 feet at the height of the storm. Several inches of snowfall was reported between 2500 and 4000 feet while areas above 4000 feet received several feet of snowfall. This heavy snowfall closed Highway 33 in Ventura county as well as Interstate 5 through the Grapevine in Los Angeles county. Between 300 and 500 vehicles were stranded along Interstate 5 on Wednesday night, January 23rd. Near the Mountain High Ski Resort several avalanches occurred, killing 3 skiers. Unstable air associated with the strom system produced several reports of waterspouts west of Oxnard and Palos Verdes with one waterspout moving onshore across Point Mugu Naval Station, damaging a roof.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 77834. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.