Winds are blasting through the mountain passes as an unusual winter storm promises freezing or near-freezing temperatures and high winds through Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service stated the storm is likely to deliver amounts of snow down to levels not seen in decades. They've issued a Winter Storm Warning from 4 a.m. on Wednesday through 4 p.m. on Saturday for the mountains in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
High winds and snow down to as low as 1,000 feet will occur through Wednesday, leading to a potential for trees falling and travel impacts at airports. Highways 154, or the San Marcos Pass, and 166 in Cuyama could also be affected, as well as the I-5 through the Grapevine.
Waves peaking at 13-22 feet are expected through Friday in the Channel and outer waters, and 10-18-footers will crash onto west-facing beaches through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.