Blizzard conditions will continue to lash Northern California for a fifth day as hurricane winds blow the blizzard into neighboring states.
Meteorologists recorded wind gusts of up to 200 miles per hour hitting the Sunshine State this weekend, while snow closed a 100-mile stretch of Interstate 80 from the Nevada border to Colfax, CA.
More than 6.5 million people are covered by winter weather warnings in the California Central Range, Shastas and Sierra Nevada. MMeanwhile, blizzard warnings cover the Sierra Nevada and eastern Nevada.
The storm passed through California on Thursday and shows little sign of letting up in the coming days with another two feet of snow on the way. About 23,000 people are still without power.
Blizzard conditions will continue to lash Northern California for a fifth day as hurricane winds blow the blizzard into neighboring states. (Image: Snow piles up in front of a church during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee, CA)
Meteorologists recorded wind gusts of up to 200 miles per hour hitting the Sunshine State this weekend, while snow closed a 100-mile stretch of Interstate 80 from the Nevada border to Colfax, CA. (Pictured: Truckee, CA, on Sunday)
“Additional 12 feet of snowfall” is expected in parts of Nevada and California through Monday morning
“Extremely heavy snowfalls of 2 to 6 inches per hour, combined with very strong winds at times exceeding 100 mph, will maintain impossible travel conditions in the Sierra Nevada,” the Weather Prediction Center said Sunday.
The center warned of “substantial disruptions to daily life and travel” in the Sierra Nevada region due to “dangerous snowstorms.”
An “additional 12 feet of snowfall” is also expected in parts of Nevada and California through Monday morning.
“Latins are becoming increasingly likely in the Sierra Nevada as snowfall piles up,” center meteorologists said.
Wind gusts across California reached 200 mph this weekend, well above the 155 mph limit for a Category 5 hurricane.
The California Highway Patrol warned there was “no estimated time for reopening the highway” after it was closed due to heavy snow.
Hundreds of travelers were stuck in their vehicles for hours and 8,000 California homes were without power Sunday morning.
“We encourage you to stay home, stay warm and avoid putting yourself and your family in a dangerous situation,” the California Highway Patrol in Truckee said on social media.
The storm passed through California on Thursday and shows little sign of letting up in the coming days
TikTokers near Lake Tahoe documented the apocalyptic weather conditions
A motorist checks on a truck that overturned when high winds hit US Route 395 near Big Pine, California on March 3, 2024
Snow covers street signs at an intersection during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
A man uses a snow blower as snow piles up during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
Snow is cleared from a sidewalk during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
A snow blower stands ready to clear snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
Birds gather on a pile of snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
A man uses a snow blower as snow piles up during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
The snowstorm caused so much inconvenience that several ski areas had to close.
Palisades Tahoe, the largest resort on the north side of Lake Tahoe and site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, closed all chairlifts Saturday due to snow, wind and poor visibility.
It planned to reopen late Sunday morning after an estimated 1.5 meters of snow fell on the upper mountain on Saturday evening.
“We will be digging for the foreseeable future,” officials said on the resort’s blog.
Meteorologists said some ski resorts reported nearly two meters of snow.
More than 10 feet of snow was expected at higher elevations, National Weather Service meteorologist William Churchill said Saturday.
The storm began moving into the region on Thursday. A blizzard warning through Sunday morning covered a 300-mile stretch of the mountains.
A second, weaker storm is expected to bring another 3 to 2 feet of snow to the region between Monday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.
Near Lake Tahoe, Alibi Ale Works brewpub and restaurant was one of the few businesses open Saturday.
Clear snow at a business entrance during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
A person clears snow as high winds blow snow around during a snowstorm in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Saturday
Part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains was covered in snow on Saturday in Mammoth Lakes, California
A dangerous winter storm has arrived in California and will bring several feet of snow, strong winds and rare mountain snowstorms this weekend and early next week.
A vehicle is covered in snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee, California
Vehicles are covered in snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee
The National Weather Service has warned people in affected regions not to travel as conditions remain ‘extremely dangerous’
Bartender Thomas Petkanas said about a meter of snow had fallen by midday and customers were shaking off the snow as they arrived.
“It’s snowing pretty hard there, the wind is blowing really hard and the power is out in about half of the city,” Petkanas said by phone.
Authorities in California closed 100 miles of I-80, the main route between Reno and Sacramento, on Friday due to “spinouts, high winds and poor visibility.”
There was no estimate for when the highway would reopen from the California-Nevada border west of Reno to near Emigrant Gap, California.
Rudy Islas spent about 40 minutes cleaning up his car Sunday morning before heading to work at a coffee shop in Truckee, California. Neither he nor his customers were shocked by the snow, he said.
“To be honest, if you’re a local, it’s not a problem,” he said. “I think a lot of people are used to the snow and are preparing for it.”
The National Weather Service has warned people in the affected regions not to travel because conditions remain “extremely dangerous.”
“If you must travel, be awe-inspiringinter-survival kit. If you become stranded, remain in your vehicle,” the agency said.