Dangerous California Storm Continues this Weekend (VIDEO)

Oregon weather turns to snow as Californians brace for unusual amounts of rainfall.

Images and video courtesy: Accuweather.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - There is a slight warming pattern underway in our weather system after several consecutive days of cold weather in Salem which saw lows this week dipping into the teens. Temperatures Friday in the capitol city have risen into the low to mid-40's and while today was mostly sunny and chilly, expect increasing clouds and colder conditions tonight as we look toward an overnight low of 28, with a 90% chance of snowfall Saturday on the valley floor.

Expect snow and rain through the weekend, with highs reaching into the upper 30's and low to mid-40's with overnight lows below freezing, but not as cold as the last couple of nights.

California Rain

Weather forecasters say rain and snow will continue into Saturday across northern and central California, while Southern California experiences a brief dry spell as the storm system slides to the southwest.

But by late Saturday, rain will return to Southern California as the storm taps into abundant tropical moisture as it turns back toward the coast.

Snow levels late today will climb to around 5,000 feet in Southern California and 3,000 feet in the mountains of central and northern California. Despite the higher snow levels, treacherous travel conditions will continue through the mountain passes.

The Grapevine section of Interstate 5, the major north-south route between the Los Angeles Basin and the San Joaquin Valley, reopened today. The highway over Tejon Pass was closed Wednesday when blowing snow stranded hundreds of motorists on the pass.

Accuweather.com says flooding has been reported today in Los Angeles. Many areas of Southern California on Thursday received more rain than they did in 2007.

Rainfall totals on Thursday include:

* Santa Barbara: 5.41"

* Morro Bay: 3.59"

* Oxnard: 3.55"

* Santa Maria: 3.16"

* Beverly Hills: 2.36"

* Downtown L.A.: 1.61"

Video

Source: Accuweather.com

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