Live storm updates: Going to SoCal? Interstate 5 in the Grapevine to remain closed overnight

A look at the winter storm that continues to lash the Fresno area on Saturday:

CHP: Grapevine will reopen Sunday morning

8 p.m. Saturday The California Highway Patrol said Interstate 5 in the the Grapevine area would remain closed through the night as crews worked to clear the roadway.

But plans were in place to reopen California’s main north-south route by 11 a.m. Sunday.

The CHP has cautioned drivers not to expect an opening before then.

Highway 168 remains closed

7:30 p.m. Saturday: Several parts of Highway 168 remained closed Saturday due to snow, including eastbound traffic from Auberry Road in Shaver Lake to 4.1 miles east of Shaver Lake at Huntington Lake Road.

Motorists have been advised to use an alternate route.

The 168 also was closed to from Lake Sabrina to Aspendell in Inyo County.

The California Highway Patrol is requiring that all vehicles have chains — no exceptions — from 6.4 miles east of Prather to the east end of Huntington Lake.

Chains are also required on all vehicles except four-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires from 1/3 miles east of Aspendell to 12 miles east of Bishop in Inyo County.

There also was one-way controlled traffic at various locations from 2.7 miles east of Prather Road at Auberry Road to 3.5 miles west of Pine Ridge due to rock slide removal.

CHP is asking motorists to be patient with the 168 reopening.

Caltrans Central Valley District 6 was using heavy equipment to move lots of snow from the highway, and CHP and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has been monitoring the possibility of stranded motorists.

Tulare County communities face flood evacuations

7 p.m. Saturday: Tulare County firefighters were assisting citizens in Seville and Yettem, where voluntary flooding evacuations were in place. Avenue 384 was closed between Road 144 and Road 132, where sandbags were being distributed.

Highway 99 in South Valley detour

6 p.m. Saturday: Highway 99 in Pixley remained closed Saturday evening due to flooding. Motorists were advised to use an alternate route.

Highway 58 reopens

2:40 p.m. Saturday: Highway 58 over the Tehachapi Pass has reopened.

The California Highway Patrol is escorting vehicles headed in both directions.

They are reminding drivers to drive slowly and leave space between vehicles in slippery conditions.

Yosemite closed

10:45 a.m. Saturday: Yosemite National Park has closed through Wednesday, March 1.

The park got plenty of snow during the storm and was discouraging people from visiting the park before upgrading to the closure. See our full story on conditions there.

Flooded intersection

10:29 a.m. Saturday: The intersection of Peach and McKinley avenues in front of Fresno-Yosemite International Airport is flooded.

The city of Fresno is asking residents to avoid the area.

Anyone needing to access the airport can get to it from Clinton Avenue.

Records broken

8:59 a.m. Saturday: Several rainfall records were broken Friday and one central San Joaquin Valley city had its wettest day ever.

The 2.16 inches of rain that fell at the Fresno-Yosemite International Airport on Friday broke a record for the day.

The previous record was 1.83 inches, set in 1969.

Friday was the seventh wettest day in Fresno since record keeping began in 1882.

Hanford had its wettest day ever Friday since record keeping began in 1899.

The city got 2.7 inches of rain at its airport. The previous record was set on Feb. 10, 1978, with 2.44 inches.

Massive rainfall

8:17 a.m. Saturday: The storm brought a huge amount of rain to the Fresno area. In the 24 hours ending at 4 a.m. Saturday, the city got 2.73 inches of rain, according to National Weather Service meteorologist David Spector in the Hanford office.

“That is a big event,” he said. “It’s one of their top 10 events of all time.”

Some areas got even more, such as Hanford, with 3.1 inches of rain.

Mountain areas got several feet of snow.

For the season, rainfall totals for Fresno were at 12.17 inches as of midnight. Normal for this time of year is 7.04.

“We’re well above normal now,” Spector said.

There’s been a break in the rain since early this morning. Showers are forecast throughout the day, especially in mountain areas.

The Valley will get a break from the weather during the day Sunday, but another storm is headed this way Sunday evening, he said.

That storm, expected to stretch into Monday and Tuesday, should only bring between a quarter to a half-inch of rain.

Highways closed

7:30 a.m. Saturday: A winter storm left several highways closed around the San Joaquin Valley on Saturday morning.

Highway 168, the route east from Clovis to Shaver Lake and China Peak ski resort, was still closed at Lodge Road/the bottom of the “four-lane” due to snow.

There is no estimated reopening time.

The California Highway Patrol said in a tweet: “@ChpFresno and @CaltransDist6 are working tirelessly to get to stranded motorists and plow the roadways.”

Snow has also closed the Grapevine. Interstate 5 is shut down from the Kern County/Los Angeles county line near Lebec to Highway 126.

A portion of Highway 99 in Pixley near Avenue 96 is closed due to flooding.

And Highway 58 was closed over the Tehachapi Pass, from east of Bakersfield to near Mojave.

Highway 41 north of Fresno is open, but chains are required three miles south of Coarsegold, except on four-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires.

Various roads around the valley floor were also closed in spots due to flooding.

Yosemite discouraging visits

7:30 a.m. Saturday: Yosemite National Park is discouraging people from visiting the park due to heavy snow.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the park through Wednesday morning.

Chains are required for people do drive into the park.

“This series of unusual storms may cause long traffic delays and road closures,” according to the park’s road conditions website.