Powerful Blizzard in California Closes Roads, Ski Resorts
TL/DR –
Northern California has been affected by blizzard conditions over the weekend with heavy snow and damaging winds. The extreme conditions have led to the closure of a 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 near the Nevada state line, due to stranded drivers. The weather has also forced the closure of numerous ski fields and chairlifts, with more than 15,000 homes and businesses left without power in California on Sunday.
Severe Blizzard Conditions Hit Northern California
Northern California continues to face severe blizzard conditions, with damaging winds and heavy snowfall affecting both mountain ridges and valleys. Winter storm warnings remain across most western states, particularly in the Sierra Nevada. The most extreme conditions are at the highest mountain elevations, where whiteout conditions and hurricane-force winds are reported.
A 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 near the Nevada state line remains closed due to snow-induced issues. The Weather Prediction Center reports that heavy snowfall rates of 2-6 inches per hour and strong winds exceeding 100 mph are maintaining impossible travel conditions in the Sierra Nevada. As of now, no estimated time for reopening is provided.
The weather service has warned of “high to extreme” avalanche danger through Sunday afternoon in the Central Sierra and Greater Lake Tahoe area. About 5-12 feet of snowfall is forecasted by Sunday along the Sierra crest, with damaging wind gusts exceeding 75 mph expected across the Intermountain West. Widespread power outages due to downed trees and power lines are also predicted, with cooler temperatures bringing the snow levels down into many valleys.
More than 15,000 homes and businesses were without power in California Sunday afternoon, as per tracking website PowerOutage.us. Ski fields and chairlifts, including those at Palisades Tahoe, Sierra at Tahoe, and Mammoth, remained closed on Sunday.
The snow and high winds across Sierra Nevada and the Intermountain West are expected to wane gradually through Monday. However, the Pacific is likely to bring additional cold air mass across a large section of the western US. Mountain snow is expected to reach as far as the central Rockies, with another storm system due on Monday.
Disruptive Travel Conditions
The National Weather Service has warned that extreme snowfall and strong winds in the Sierra and parts of the northern ranges are causing whiteout conditions, making travel impossible. The storm caused the closure of the main road to Mammoth Mountain ski resort, US 395, on Saturday due to whiteout conditions. Also, many stuck vehicles were reported by the highway patrol office Truckee, over Donner Summit. In some cases, emergency personnel and tow trucks struggled to reach motorists due to blizzard conditions.
Many other roadways in the area are closed due to the weather, and some are enforcing chain control, requiring vehicles to have chains to proceed. On Sunday morning, the highway patrol in Truckee shared a video showing snowy conditions and low visibility on a stretch of I-80, which remained closed on Sunday at Colfax and the Nevada state line.
The severe winter storm conditions are causing difficulties in clearing roadways of snow, damaging some equipment and causing further issues for crews working in Northern California. In the South Lake Tahoe area, a snowslide trapped vehicles and briefly shut down Highway 50 Sunday morning, but no injuries were reported and crews quickly reopened the road.
Yosemite National Park, which closed Friday due to the storm, partially reopened to visitors Sunday afternoon. Park officials warned visitors to expect snowy conditions throughout the park, and tire chains might be required for vehicles. A blizzard warning remains in effect for the park area until 7 p.m. on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Hanford, California.
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