Traffic is moving along Interstate 5 in the Grapevine area. But, early Friday morning heavy snowfall brought everything to a halt.
The California Highway Patrol closed the highway, forcing some drivers to spend the night in their cars.
As the rain moved into the Central Valley overnight, it started snowing in the mountains, closing Interstate 5 over the Grapevine and eventually Highway 58.
Heavy snow quickly coated the roads in Gorman Thursday night. The CHP closed Interstate 5 through the Grapevine Friday around 2 a.m.
Some drivers sat in their cars and waited for the road to re-open. "I ended up going through the mountain pass through Gorman and that's treacherous. Even the snow plow was having a hard time," said one driver.
The snow on the roads quickly turned to slush. One driver said he slept in his car overnight while he waited for Interstate 5 to re-open.
"Overnight, pretty much slept in the car like ninjas. Now, we're going to ninja our way back to San Francisco," said another driver.
Even the traffic signs were covered with snow. In Frazier Park, crews were ready to clear the roads.
"If you plow it off, you leave an inch or a half inch, and then it melts faster because it is thinner, and if the sun comes up it will dry out," said Juan Mora, snow plow driver.
As daylight broke Friday morning, Highway 58 and Interstate 5 remained closed. "They are still snowy. They are still trying to clean it up," said Officer Joel Eddings, California Highway Patrol.
Just before 8:00 Friday morning, both roads were re-opened to traffic. "Conditions have improved. It’s not snowing anymore," continued Eddings.
In Bakersfield, there was no snow but plenty of rain. A four-car crash snarled the early lunch commute through the center of town.
Officers say two semi trucks collided just after 11:00 Friday morning on 99 South at Rosedale Highway. Traffic was backed up past Airport Drive. No one was injured.
If you’re traveling, you can call 1-800-GAS-ROAD for the latest road conditions.
