Blizzard hits California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and closes key highway with more snow to follow: Live - The Independent

Blizzard hits California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and closes key highway with more snow to follow: Live | The Independent

Blizzard hits California’s Sierra Nevada mountains and closes key highway with more snow to follow: Live

Blizzard warnings were issued for the Sierra Nevada through Sunday

Michelle Del Rey,

Andrea Cavallier,
Louise Boyle Comments

More snow was forecast in northern California on Monday after an intense blizzard dropped more than 7ft of snow in places.

Highways and ski resorts were closed this weekend amid dangerous whiteout conditions in mountainous areas of California and neighboring Nevada.

While most of the storm has passed through the Sierra Nevada by Monday morning, some additional snow was expected. Scattered thunderstorms were likely and another 2 feet of snow was possible at higher elevations, the National Weather Service office in Sacramento said.

Communities across the region were beginning to dig out from the snowdrifts which had reached the roofs of some homes, and trapped people indoors.

Power had mostly been restored by Monday after more than 40,000 homes suffered outages this weekend. Still, more than 7,500 customers remained without power, according to utility tracker poweroutage.us.

Palisades Tahoe ski resort said that it planned to open on Monday - but that it wasn’t guaranteed. The largest resort on the north end of Lake Tahoe was among several ski mountains that closed most or all chairlifts this weekend because of snow, wind and low visibility. Palisades reported a three-day snow total of 6 feet.
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California’s blizzard in pictures

Patrons enter Jax At The Tracks diner past snow drifts in downtown Truckee, Calif., Sunday, March 3, 2024

Residents clear out snow in front of their home on Donner Pass Road during a powerful multiple day winter storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains

Workers clear snow off the roof of a building during a blizzard Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Olympic Valley, California

Homes are covered in snow during a powerful multiple day winter storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains, which is boosting the snowpack, on March 03, 2024 in Truckee, California
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New storm approaches California

A new storm is coming for the west coast after a blizzard slammed Sierra Nevada, Donner Pass, Truckee and Lake Tahoe areas this weekend, according to meteorologist Jason D. Farhang.

“The forthcoming weather system is comparatively milder, with a moderate cold front gradually forming within the next 12 to 24 hours,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday.

“Additional information regarding this system will soon be made available, revealing the emergence of a promising moderate surface cold front that will sweep through the region on Wednesday. Rainfall amounts from 0.45in to 1.2in is acceptable with the new system.”
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‘No estimated reopening’ for major freeway

More than 100 miles of I-80 remained closed on Sunday from the Nevada border to Colfax, California.

There is “no estimated time of reopening the freeway,” the California Highway Patrol said.
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Watch: Northern California battered by blizzard
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Blizzard conditions, monster winds and whiteouts in Tahoe
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Struggle to clear roads

Transport crews have been struggling to clear highways after many blowers and plows broke down in the face of extreme snow piles.

“We have been down to 2 of 10 blowers at our central hub in Kingvale and 6 out of 20 from Auburn to the Nevada state line. 80 remains CLOSED with no ETO,” Caltrans District 3, north of Sacramento, reported on Sunday.

Transport officials reported that many blowers and plows had broken due to the massive amounts of snow
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How much snow has fallen?

The National Weather Service released the three-day snowfall totals for northern California on Sunday.

Nearly 64 inches fell in parts of the Sierra Nevada while Sugarbowl ski resort, close to the Donner Pass, reported 87 inches.

Another 1-2 ft was still expected above 4000 ft, NWS said, with areas in the upper foothills seeing 1-4 inches.

Three-day snowfall totals in California
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Ski resort plans to open on Monday

Palisades Tahoe ski resort said that it planned to open on Monday, with the goal of having a few lifts going by 9am - but that it wasn’t guaranteed.

The largest resort on the north end of Lake Tahoe was among several ski mountains that closed most or all chairlifts this weekend because of snow, wind and low visibility.

Palisades reported a three-day snow total of 6 feet (1.8 meters), with more falling.
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The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center warned that there was “considerable” avalanche danger through Tuesday morning at 7am, local time.

“Unstable wind slabs ranging in size and sensitivity are today’s primary concern. The weak layers near the base of our snowpack may still be adjusting to the new snow load,” the avalanche center report read.

“Avoiding steep, wind affected slopes and overhead hazard is the best way to minimize your exposure today.”

Eastern Sierras backcountry avalanche report on 4 March, 2024
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Nevada experiences snow squalls

Parts of western Nevada experienced snow squalls through Sunday night as an intense blizzard swept the region.

The snow squall warning was in place until late Sunday for major highways, I-80, US-50, US-95, near Fernley, and US-50 and US-95 near Fallon, around one hour from Reno.