COUNTYWIDE : Storm from Alaska Brings Chill, Dusts Peaks With Snow

A storm packing fierce winds from the Gulf of Alaska dusted the mountains of northern Ventura County with snow Friday, dotted inland and coastal areas with a few sprinkles and brought chilly temperatures throughout the county.

Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 50s Saturday and a second storm from the Gulf of Alaska should bring substantial rainfall beginning late Sunday, said agricultural meteorologist Terry Schaeffer in Santa Paula. He declined to estimate how many of inches of rain the area will receive.

The Topa Topa Mountains north of Ojai received less than half of an inch, said Sabina DeWerth, a spokeswoman for the Ojai Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest. But forest rangers could not accurately measure the snow accumulation because California 33 north of Ojai was closed Thursday morning due to heavy rockslides from last month’s rains, she said.

“It looks like more of a dusting, but even if there’s more out there, there’s no way to enjoy it,� DeWerth said.

Caltrans has closed a 29-mile stretch of the highway from Wheeler Gorge Camp Ground to Lockwood Valley for three weeks to remove rocks and dirt from slides caused by last month’s heavy rains. More than 25,000 cubic yards of dirt and rock need to be removed, said Bruce Dyar, regional manager for Caltrans.

On Friday, about two inches of snow fell on the mountains in Los Padres backcountry, with about 10 inches blanketing Mt. Pinos just north of the Ventura County line, said Valerie Shaw, a spokeswoman for the forest’s Frazier Park District.

By late afternoon Friday, the snow in the range of mountains between the Sierra Madre ridge and the Tehachapi Range had melted, but wet flurries continued into the evening, Shaw said.

At Seaside Park in Ventura and other spots along the coast, windsurfers braved the cooler temperatures to take advantage of winds of 25 m.p.h. and storm-driven waves that sent them rocketing into the air.

“The more wind the better,� said Curtis Price, a lifeguard with the state Department of Parks and Recreation.