Snow in San Bernardino mountains leads to school closures; roads back open
RUNNING SPRINGS, Calif. (KABC) -- Recent Southern California storms dropped several feet of snow in the San Bernardino Mountains, making for dangerous driving conditions and leading to Bear Valley Unified School District to close its schools on Tuesday.
The California Highway Patrol said Monday night road restrictions were lifted after officials had urged drivers throughout the day to avoid highways 330, 18 and 38, allowing only residents to use them.
It was a snow day for all the schools in the mountains, with buses in the parking lot unable to move.
"Let's just say Running Springs is a frozen iceland right now," joked Running Springs resident Jack Greene.
The school district confirmed all campuses would remain closed on Tuesday due to the extreme weather and unsafe road conditions, according to a press release issued Monday night.
This closure affects the following schools:
- Big Bear Elementary School
- Baldwin Lake Elementary School
- Fallsvale Elementary School
- North Shore Elementary School
- Big Bear Middle School
- Big Bear High School
- Chautauqua High School
Local Helene Forman said in her opinion, Sunday's storm was even worse than the big one back in 2010.
Sunday night, Caltrans crews had to rescue people stuck on a flooded-out portion of Highway 18 near Snow Valley.
Farther west, Highway 18 was closed near Crestline because of heavy rocks falling down toward the highway. Locals said the smaller roads can be even worse.
"They crash and get stuck and the next thing you know, you have 10 people down there stuck in the middle of a blizzard," said Running Springs resident Pete Gomez.
