Snow levels drop to 1,300 feet, flakes falling in Valencia, Santa Clarita

Motorists on the Grapevine may have been frustrated by the snow, but a little farther south -– in Valencia -– residents were delighted by the unusual sight of falling snowflakes.

The snow level had dropped to 1,300 feet with flurries falling in Valencia, Canyon Country and Santa Clarita. One to 2 inches of snow were expected to accumulate overnight, said National Weather Service meteorologist Jamie Meier. A frigid upper-level low-pressure system that originated in the Pacific Northwest was expected to keep the snow level at unusually low elevations at least through Monday.

Paul Butler, 45, said his in-laws have been visiting for seven weeks to avoid the "English winter." But they've been greeted instead by bone-chilling temperatures, rainstorms and gusty winds. And then Sunday, snow.

"We were sitting down for the traditional Sunday lunch, and all of the sudden we looked out the window and it's snowing," Butler said. "It's really bizarre. The sky is all white. There are literally flakes of snow coming down."

Butler, who has lived in Valencia for about seven years, said he's only seen it snow one other time, about five or six years ago. His daughter, 14-year-old Brodie, ran outdoors when she saw the snow.

"She just stood outside with her tongue hanging out," Butler said. "We locked the door on her."

Meanwhile, locals took to Twitter to announce the news.

"OMG!!! We have Snow flurries here in Valencia, Ca. I am so so happy, I'm putting on my rubber boots, snow gear & im making a snow man, tehe!" tweeted @JjsRealm.

"I'm in Valencia and actual snow flakes r falling not hail snow!" tweeted @Bikinigurl.

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Photo: Snow covers a car in Valencia. Credit: Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[imjane]

Help the homeless men and most especially, the homeless women and children through this ongoing frigid weather.

[guest]

It is Al Gore's global warming.

[Bill]

AWESOME!!!

[bettye198]

Guess I must be at 1300 Ft here in the Haskell Canyon of Saugus because my Earthbox lettuce and greens are fully covered in snow as is my grass and patio table. I don't remember this much snow since 1988 in Agoura. The snow is staying now for 2 hrs at 36 deg on our barometer. You say 1-2 inches by tomorrow???

[Jack Citizen]

I'm in Frazier Park just off the Interstate 5 close to the summit. The 5 will be shut for a while. Its colder then usual, 23 degrees up here. The snow started coming down this morning around 10am and never stopped, in fact it got heavier. Its now almost 5pm on Sunday and there's a good foot of snow on the floor. We've yet to see a snow plow. If you don't have chains or 4x4 you should not consider driving around here. What's different from past years is the snow is all the way down to the base of the Grapevine on the north and extends even to Valencia CA. This means its snowing even at 1600 ft.

[John]

It's pretty amazing. All of the neighbors and kids were outside with cameras and video cams in hand.

[Carrie]

I guess you folks haven't figured out that Santa Clarita IS Valencia, Canyon Country, Saugus, and Newhall. It's all been incorporated since 1987.

[CS]

Man, californians are funny: "It's really bizarre. The sky is all white." Now, if there was a spaceship of unknown origin hovering over the house that would be "bizarre". Snow is not bizarre it's just well..snow.

[Jim]

More evidence of global warming.

[Mayra]

It was so great to see all the kids outside building snow men on our front yards.
welcome snow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jo]

born and raised in saugus since '83. haven't seen snow since '89! what a great little new year's treat. enjoy while it lasts, because it'll take another 20+ years for it to return. :)