Heavy snowfall hindered travel in the San Bernardino Mountains Thursday morning while skiers and snowboarders celebrated the powder day.
Chains were required for all 2-wheel drive vehicles on Highway 38, Highway 18 in Lucerne Valley and 18 through Running Springs. The snow also prompted closures for all seven schools in the Big Bear Valley Unified School District.
Close to two feet of snow is expected in some parts of Big Bear, and the mountain resorts aren’t hiding their excitement.
“We usually don’t share [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s] predictions, but this one’s too juicy to keep to ourselves,” Big Bear Mountain Resort shared on X, formerly Twitter. “They’re forecasting 13 to 19 inches of fresh snow during the day today. And it doesn’t stop there — 1-3 inches tonight and 1-3 inches tomorrow.”
The resort said that Thursday was “the best time to get on the hill and claim the fresh powder” for the adrenaline junkies, although it’ll be difficult to get there from the lower elevations.
KTLA’s Shelby Nelson was in Big Bear on Thursday morning, where the snow was falling quickly.
“Big Bear, it’s a little crazy over here. I’m getting slammed by another wind gust,” Nelson said around 6 a.m. Thursday, while shielding her face from the rapidly falling snow.
Snowboarders and skiers told her that, while there’s a possibility that they could be stuck on the mountain due to dangerous road conditions, there are worse places to be stranded.
“I know in my mind I might get stuck here for an extra day or two,” Max Carey of Chatsworth said with a laugh. “Oh no, I’m stuck here for another day. Another day of snowboarding.”
