Mountain travel ‘very discouraging’, Interstate 80 closed as latest storm traverses Sierra


A “dangerous to impossible” move is expected in the Sierra Nevada as another winter storm blows through the mountains on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

The Japan Meteorological Agency also said it expected a belt of heavy rainfall as the front moved up the Highway 80 corridor.

“It’s like very heavy snow right now,” said Eric Carth, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service. There is a possibility.”

Located at an altitude of 6,894 feet in Soda Springs, California, the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab Said it fell 21.3 inches of snow 8:50 am to 24 hours

There were already 10 feet of snow on the ground, labs report, with an additional two to three feet expected by Monday morning.

The Meteorological Agency tweeted at 11:20 am on Saturday that “dangerous to impossible Sierra travel expected as series of strong thunderstorms continue.” A heavy snow rate of 2-4 with zero visibility and a gust of wind will render the road impassable and cause a whiteout. Definitely do not recommend the trip! “

Road Closed

According to Caltrans, multiple spinouts have caused congestion at various points on Interstate 80 eastbound from Drum Road up the hills towards Lake Tahoe.

Caltrans said traffic stopped at donor summit Post to Twitter.

The highway was closed westbound at the state line and eastbound at Colfax due to spinouts, high winds and whiteout driving conditions. According to the California Highway Patrol.

According to CHP, the spinout restricted eastbound traffic on a highway about two miles (2 miles) east of Baxter. This route is closed at Colfax to prevent traffic jams up the hill.

Multiple spinouts are also causing congestion on Highway 50 between Echo Summit and Meyers, according to Caltrans.

Highway 49 is closed to traffic due to heavy snow from about four miles north of the Nevada-Yuba County line on Marysville Road to Sattley in Sierra County, Caltrans reports. rice field.

Highway 20 is closed between Nevada Street and the I-80 junction due to ice on the road.

There is no estimated time when any of these roads will reopen.

visit https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov For up-to-date road and traffic information.