As a major winter storm pounded the Sierra Nevada with some of the worst conditions in years, Interstate 80 was closed from Colfax to the Nevada state line.
Extreme snowfall rates and gusty winds combined to drop visibility to zero feet along the road over Donner Summit. Forecasts called for 3 to 4 feet of snow over the summit Tuesday, with more expected Wednesday and Thursday. Traffic is also being held on Highway 50 Traffic from Echo Summit to Meyers in El Dorado County due to vehicles, spinning out, Caltrans said.
Snow has been heavy for hours along the roadway. UC Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab, which is near Donner Pass, reported over 28 inches of snow in the past day and said another 2 to 2 feet were expected by Wednesday night.
“Anecdotally, the combination of low visibility, intense snowfall, and high winds have created the worst conditions since Feb 2023!” the lab wrote on X.
As of 9:30 a.m., major ski resorts generally had at least some lifts open, but conditions were changing quickly. Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, the road to the base area, was closed, and the resort told people: “Please to not attempt to drive up until further notice.”
The storm was forecast to bring California its coldest air in three years. Snow even appeared atop Bay Area peaks, and northern portions of the Sacramento Valley were under a winter storm warning for potential accumulating snow.
This story is developing and will be updated.
This article originally published at California closes I-80, Highway 50 in Sierra as major snowstorm rages.