Hillsides Hold, Mandatory Evacuations Lifted

La Canada Flintridge - Authorities on Wednesday canceled all mandatory evacuation orders issued to the residents of more than 500 homes in La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Acton, below the Station Fire burn area.

With the storm that hit the Southland Tuesday having cleared out, Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Mark Savage said the evacuation orders were lifted as of 8 a.m. They affected 247 homes in La Canada Flintridge, 224 in La Crescenta, and 56 in Acton, Soledad Canyon and Aliso Canyon.

Although Interstate 5 in the area of The Grapevine was dry as of 8 a.m., National Weather Service meteorologists said there could still be snow flurries this morning in the Antelope Valley and parts of the San Gabriel Mountains. The snow level fell to between 2,500 and 3,400 feet as a result of the latest storm, according to the NWS.

"We still have a very unstable air mass," said NWS spokesman Bill Hoffer, adding that all remnants of the storm should clear out by noon.

An NWS advisory said that, "in addition to the threat of additional snow showers, the very cold temperatures will bring the threat of black ice" this morning, and winds of between 15-25 miles per hour gusting to 35 mph could churn up clouds of blowing snow, reducing visibility.

Between 2 and 4 inches of snow could accumulate across the Antelope Valley foothills today, according to the NWS. In the San Gabriels, total snow accumulation of between 6 and 12 inches is expected as a result of the storm.

A winter storm warning was scheduled to remain in effect in the San Gabriels and the Antelope Valley until noon today, although the expiration time was initially set for 10 a.m. Additionally, a wind advisory, set to expire at noon, was declared this morning for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area.

Between 5:45 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. today, 51-mph gusts swept the Malibu Hills, while in the San Gabriels, gusts of 60 mph were recorded at Whitaker Peak, according to the NWS.

The cold Pacific storm system that struck the Southland Tuesday was centered off the coast of north Baja California this morning, according to the NWS.

Today's forecast for the Los Angeles area called for partly cloudy skies and a 20 percent chance of showers this morning, but no heavy rain was expected, reducing pressure on the burn areas. "It's going to be a beautiful day," said NWS meteorologist Curt Kaplan.

The 500-plus homes that were placed under evacuation orders Monday night appeared on a 27-page list of addresses. By noon Tuesday, an estimated 62 percent of residents had complied with the 10 a.m. deadline to leave their homes, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore.

The evacuation orders came amid criticism leveled against local and federal officials after rains unleashed debris flows and flooding early Saturday, endangering some hillside residents and damaging more than 40 homes and 25 vehicles in La Canada Flintridge. The intensity of Saturday's storm was unexpected, and it was not preceded by evacuation orders.

Temperatures, meanwhile, were expected to be on the cool side today, but a warming trend will start Thursday.

The NWS forecast highs today of 43 on Mount Wilson; 50 in Palmdale; 51 in Lancaster; 55 in Newhall; 57 in Pasadena and Woodland Hills; 58 in Burbank, Long Beach and at LAX; 59 in San Gabriel and Avalon; 60 in Newport Beach and downtown L.A.; and 61 in Anaheim.

On Thursday, temperature highs across the region are expected to be between 5 and 10 degrees higher than today -- 15 degrees higher in some places by Saturday.