Snow emergency declared in Long Beach; schools are closed

The City of Long Beach has declared a snow emergency and warned drivers toi stay off the roads due to the heavy blowing snow.

Long Beach schools are closed because of the snow storm.

City Manager Donna Gayden declared the snow emergency Sunday night as storm warnings worsened.

The city said that its Public Works Department has 59 snow removal vehicles prepared to deal with the snow, and 800 tons of rock salt and sand to keep streets clear and safe once the snow stops, possibly late tonight.

Sam Pinto, a Long Beach firefighter, said at least six inches of snow had fallen on the city by 8 am Monday. He said he knew of no traffic accidents, and people were staying off the roads.

"It's getting really deep and it's coming down fast," Pinto said.

City officials ask that residents not throw snow onto the streets and not park within 15 feet of an intersection

The city also warned that high winds could cause some power outages.

There are also worries about coastal flooding. Tides are expected to be 2 to 4 feet above normal.