Article and photos by Malia Dietz
At 10:14 p.m. on Thursday January 31st, the California Highway Patrol responded to multiple reports of vehicles spinning out and installing chains on Highway 18 near the Big Bear dam.
Chain controls were not activated after a quick winter storm passed through the area. Snow fell briefly from Heaps Peak all the way up to Big Bear. By 8 p.m. that evening, the skies had cleared leaving roadways wet.
Temperatures then quickly dropped to below freezing at higher altitudes causing ice to form on the roadways. In addition to the Big Bear dam report, icy roadways were also reported to the CHP on Northshore Drive near Stanfield cutoff. California Highway Patrol then dispatched CalTrans to lay cinders in the affected areas.
Mountain motorists are cautioned to drive carefully when icy conditions on the roadways arise.
