Sierra chain controls: Northern California road conditions after much-needed snow falls upon region
LIVE AT DONNER SUMMIT WITH A LOOK AT THE SNOW COMING DOWN. MELANIE. YEAH, IT’S COMING DOWN. JUST AS OPHELIA HAD SAID IT WOULD BE AND STICKING. THAT’S WHY THOSE CHAIN CONTROLS ARE IN EFFECT OVER DONNER SUMMIT TODAY. AND AS BRIAN MENTIONED, YOU’LL HIT THAT CHAIN CONTROL CHECKPOINT AT KINGVALE. AND WHAT WE’RE SEEING ON THE ROADWAY AT 7200FT HERE ON DONNER SUMMIT IS SLUSHY ROAD CONDITIONS OVER THE SUMMIT. AND THAT’S WHY CHAIN CONTROLS HAVE TO BE IN PLACE AS CARS AND TRUCKS TRAVERSE THIS PART OF THE HIGHWAY, IT GETS REALLY SLICK, ESPECIALLY AS YOU’RE HEADED ON THE DOWNSLOPE INTO TRUCKEE. SO THAT’S WHY, AS THE CALTRANS READER BOARD SAYS, IN THE DISTANCE FROM WHERE WE’RE SET UP, ICE AND SNOW TAKE IT SLOW. WE’RE SEEING THAT RIGHT HERE AT THIS ELEVATION, AND WE’RE SEEING IT STICK ON THE ROADWAY HERE AND OFF TO THE SIDE AT THE DONNER SUMMIT REST AREA. SO I JUST WANTED TO GIVE BRANDY AND TEO A LITTLE BIT OF A SLICE OF HOW NOT UNPRECEDENTED THIS IS. YOU GUYS, WHEN DO YOU THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS UP ON DONNER SUMMIT TALKING ABOUT SNOW WAS ON APRIL FOOLS DAY, APRIL 1ST. JUST TAKE A QUICK GUESS. LAST YEAR, TWO THREE YEARS AGO. THREE YEARS AGO? YES, I KNEW IT. NO, LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR. OKAY, BRANDY. YOU WON. THANK YOU. WHAT IS MY PRIZE? HOW WAS IT? APRIL 1ST OF LAST YEAR. WHAT IS MY PRIZE? MELANIE? YEAH, MY GIFT. SNOW ALSO OF SNOW. ALL SNOW. THE WINNER, WINNER, WINNER. ALL RIGHT. MELANIE. BE CAREFUL. THANK YOU. YAY! BOWL OF SNOW THIS MORNING. SPEAKING OF SNOW, STATE WATER OFFICIALS WILL HAVE THEIR FINAL SNOW SURVEY OF THE SEASON. VIDEO HERE FROM THE LAST SURVEY ON FEBRUARY 28TH, AFTER WE SAW A SERIES OF STORMS THAT PUT THE STATEWIDE TOTAL AT 66% OF AVERAGE, BUT WE DID NOT GET ANY MORE SNOW UNTIL YESTERDAY. SIERRA SNOWPACK IS NORMALLY AT ITS PEAK RIGHT NOW. TODAY. HOWEVER, AS OF MONDAY, THE STATEWIDE TOTAL WAS JUST 18% OF AVERAGE. IT’S EVEN WORSE IN THE NORTHERN SIERRA, JUST 6%, CENTRAL SIERRA IS 20% OF AVERAGE, WHILE THE SOUTHE
Sierra chain controls: Northern California road conditions after much-needed snow falls upon region
Updated: 7:39 AM PDT Apr 1, 2026
After a weeks-long stretch of unusually warm and dry weather, Northern California is experiencing rain, snow and high winds.The KCRA 3 weather team issued an Impact Day specifically for the Sierra because of how snow is expected to affect travel and outdoor activities.Learn more about Wednesday’s forecast hereSee road conditions hereWhen enough snow falls to affect major roadways, road officials are likely to issue chain controls. When those are in effect, the speed limit on Interstate 80 is reduced to 30 mph, and Highway 50 is reduced to 25 mph.All vehicles under chain controls are required to have chains installed on tires except for those with four-wheel-drive and snow tires equipped.Below is what to know about chain controls for the major roadways in Northern California:Northern California chain controlsInterstate 80Eastbound traffic: Chains required from Cisco in Placer County to Truckee in Nevada County.Westbound traffic: Chains required from the Donner Lake Interchange to 2.5 miles east of the Highway 20 junction in Nevada County.Highway 50There are currently no road restrictions.Highway 88Chains required from Peddler Hill in Amador County to 5 miles west of Picketts Junction in Alpine County.Highway 89The road is closed from the Highway 395 junction to the Highway 4/Monitor Pass junction due to adverse weather.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
After a weeks-long stretch of unusually warm and dry weather, Northern California is experiencing rain, snow and high winds.
The KCRA 3 weather team issued an Impact Day specifically for the Sierra because of how snow is expected to affect travel and outdoor activities.
When enough snow falls to affect major roadways, road officials are likely to issue chain controls. When those are in effect, the speed limit on Interstate 80 is reduced to 30 mph, and Highway 50 is reduced to 25 mph.
All vehicles under chain controls are required to have chains installed on tires except for those with four-wheel-drive and snow tires equipped.
Below is what to know about chain controls for the major roadways in Northern California:
Northern California chain controls
Interstate 80
Eastbound traffic: Chains required from Cisco in Placer County to Truckee in Nevada County.
Westbound traffic: Chains required from the Donner Lake Interchange to 2.5 miles east of the Highway 20 junction in Nevada County.
Highway 50
There are currently no road restrictions.
Highway 88
Chains required from Peddler Hill in Amador County to 5 miles west of Picketts Junction in Alpine County.
Highway 89
The road is closed from the Highway 395 junction to the Highway 4/Monitor Pass junction due to adverse weather.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel