The National Weather Service said Thursday morning that a blizzard warning is in effect for areas above 2,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada east of Sacramento through Sunday.
Caltrans officials said just before 9 a.m. that chain controls are in effect on eastbound Interstate Highway 80 from Kingvale to Truckee and westbound from Truckee to Rainbow.
According to Caltrans, eastbound traffic on Highway 80 is being turned away at Kingvale and Drum Forebay in Placer County because of an overturned truck. Trucks are being turned back at Applegate. Caltrans officials said there is no estimated time of reopening.
Forecasters said conditions will begin to deteriorate quickly in the mountains Thursday afternoon, with high winds and heavy snow causing white-out conditions at times.
The weather service said it’s already snowing heavily over the Sierra and isn’t expected to let up for the next three days. Forecasters expect 5 to 10 feet of snow above 5,000 feet and 1 to 4 feet above 3,000 feet.
Snowfall will be heaviest Thursday afternoon and evening and Friday afternoon. Wind gusts in the mountains are expected to reach up to 75 mph.
People in mountain areas can expect downed trees and power lines and extended power outages.
Forecasters asked drivers to stay off mountain roads, if possible, until the arriving storm is gone on Sunday. To check current road conditions, go to http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov.
80 was closed for several hours. We had a smooth trip up 50.
For us recliner folk, a few URLs.
One with Caltrans CCTV cameras will be fun to watch,
letting you realize how fortunate you are not to be up in the mountains.
https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/
https://cwwp2.dot.ca.gov/vm/iframemap.htm
https://www.windy.com/-Rain-thunder-rain?rain,37.492,-122.871,5
https://tinyurl.com/mrzjtktm
https://cdec.water.ca.gov/reportapp/javareports?name=RES
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ca/soda-springs/KCASODAS17
https://tinyurl.com/3fxpbnjz
Hope these help
The cameras show rain and no snow yet at 4000 feet and light snow at 5000 feet. While blizzard conditions are projected for 6000 feet on up it’s not snowing at present and the roads are plowed clear.
Flatlanders must have decided to go to the snow.
Many spin outs, blowing snow, 80 closed both directions.
East bound 80 is a parking lot, hope EV owners have the good sense to give up and turn back.
I was living in the Seattle area in 1990 when the area was hit by a heavy snow storm. Even people who were commuting on the bus system took up to 6 hours to get home. While I drove around in my Subaru while mostly the only other cars were Subarus. 🥶