Northern California storm impacts: Chain controls in effect in the Sierra
I’M LETICIA ORDAZ ON THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH. WE ARE STARTING WITH A LOOK OUTSIDE AT THOSE EARLY MORNING CONDITIONS. THIS IS A LOOK AT DONNER LAKE USING LIVE TRACKER THREE. RAINFALL AND SNOW IS IMPACTING ROADS THIS MORNING, AND IT’S EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE AFTERNOON. METEOROLOGIST KELLY CURRAN IS HERE WITH THE BREAKDOWN OF TODAY’S WEATHER IMPACT DAY. YEAH, WE’RE STILL SEEING A LOT OF CLOUDS OUT THERE. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE AT RANCHO CORDOVA. IT IS AN IMPACT DAY FOR THE VALLEY, THE FOOTHILLS AND INTO THE SIERRA. NOW FOR THE VALLEY IN THE FOOTHILLS. IT’S BECAUSE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR THE SIERRA, IT’S ABOUT THE SNOW. AND THOSE SNOW LEVELS ARE DROPPING. IN FACT, CHAIN CONTROLS IN PLACE ACROSS MANY OF THE AREA FREEWAYS. NOW, TEMPERATURES, THOSE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY COOLER THIS WEEKEND, EVEN MORE SO AS WE GET INTO TOMORROW. FIRST, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SATELLITE RADAR IMAGERY. YOU SEE THE SHOWERS ARE MOVING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH. MOST OF WHAT WE’RE SEEING IN THE VALLEY IS PRETTY LIGHT AND SPOTTY, SAME AS YOU GET UP INTO THE FOOTHILLS THOUGH. WE HAVE HAD SOME HEAVIER RAIN MOVE THROUGH GRASS VALLEY EARLIER THIS MORNING THAT IS STARTING TO TRACK ITS WAY NORTHWARD. WILL BE ENTERING PLUMAS COUNTY HERE SOON. AND THEN THE SNOW THAT WE’VE BEEN DEALING WITH IN THE SIERRA TEMPERATURES, A MID AND UPPER 50S ACROSS MUCH OF THE VALLEY, THE FOOTHILLS IN THE LOW 50S. AND WE’RE IN THE MID 30S RIGHT NOW. TRUCKEE IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, HIGHS TODAY. WELL, THOSE ARE CERTAINLY GOING TO BE COOLER. WE’RE TALKING 60S FOR THE VALLEY UPPER 50S FOR THE FOOTHILLS AND EVEN 40S FOR THE SIERRA. NOW THOSE CHAIN CONTROLS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT CISCO GROVE TO TRUCKEE ON I-80 50. IT’S TWIN BRIDGES TO MEYERS. AND THEN ON 88 IT’S HAM STATION TO PICKETTS JUNCTION. SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THOSE CHAINS. YOU HAVE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. AND REALLY IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE DRIVING TODAY
Northern California storm impacts: Chain controls in effect in the Sierra
Updated: 8:25 AM PDT Apr 11, 2026
Drivers should expect occasional Sierra chain controls this weekend as stormy weather continues across Northern California. According to our weather team, the snow level is expected to hover around 6,500 feet on Saturday and bring accumulations to Tahoe-area summits.Check current highway conditions hereTrack interactive radar here | See our live traffic mapDownload our app for the latest alertsShare your photos and videos at KCRA.com/upload | See viewer submissions hereSee the full forecast and rain totals Saturday night will be more difficult for Sierra travel, with the snow level expected to drop as low as 4,000 feet by Sunday morning. The snow will then pile up through Sunday afternoon to about 2 feet at the summits in all. When chain controls 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.See below for updates on chain controls and other weather impacts. SATURDAY 8:15 a.m.: Eastbound I-80: Chain controls from Cisco Grove to the Donner Lake InterchangeWestbound I-80: Chain controls from Truckee to 2.5 miles east of the junction of Highway 20Highway 50: Chain controls from Twin Bridges to MeyersHighway 88: Chain controls from Peddlers Vista to 5 miles west of Picketts Junction 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
Drivers should expect occasional Sierra chain controls this weekend as stormy weather continues across Northern California.
According to our weather team, the snow level is expected to hover around 6,500 feet on Saturday and bring accumulations to Tahoe-area summits.
Saturday night will be more difficult for Sierra travel, with the snow level expected to drop as low as 4,000 feet by Sunday morning. The snow will then pile up through Sunday afternoon to about 2 feet at the summits in all.
When chain controls 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.
See below for updates on chain controls and other weather impacts.
SATURDAY
8:15 a.m.:
Eastbound I-80: Chain controls from Cisco Grove to the Donner Lake InterchangeWestbound I-80: Chain controls from Truckee to 2.5 miles east of the junction of Highway 20Highway 50: Chain controls from Twin Bridges to MeyersHighway 88: Chain controls from Peddlers Vista to 5 miles west of Picketts Junction
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