Carmageddon! Lake Tahoe is hit by a terrifying car jam after the ski area was blanketed in snow and winter sports fans clogged the roads to try to take advantage

A dramatic 16-car crash ended up on the road to a popular Lake Tahoe resort as avid skiers rushed to the mountain because of the fresh snow.

Drivers in South Lake Tahoe witnessed a terrifying series of car crashes on the icy roads Wednesday afternoon.

Cars plunged down a slippery hill, slamming into a growing cluster of crashed vehicles piling up at the bottom.

Bystander video footage posted yesterday shows tense spectators standing helpless as more and more cars slide uncontrollably down the mountain one by one.

The road to Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe became a parking lot after as many as 16 cars piled up precariously and clogged the path.

Drivers in South Lake Tahoe witnessed a terrifying series of car crashes on the icy roads Wednesday afternoon

One of the cars was a vehicle from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, which had dispatched officers to respond to the drastic situation.

Floods of tourists rushed to the mountain, which straddles the border of California and Nevada, this week after generous snowfall blanketed its slopes.

Law enforcement agencies are urging motorists to use chains on their cars as they navigate the icy roads and adhere to general winter driving rules. Tahoe Daily Tribune.

South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson said the empty cars left behind in the traffic jam were towed away by 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Route 50 is the only way in and out of South Lake Tahoe, making the traffic incidents particularly disruptive to residents and people traveling to and from the mountain.

There have been reports of two other dangerous congestions in the area in the past week, sparking discussion within the community about how to avoid the dangerous situations.

According to Lake Tahoe Police Sgt. Nicholas Carlquist – There has been conflicting pressure on the police station from locals and businesses wanting to keep the road open for those living nearby, but other businesses have urged authorities to close it.

“When we close the roads, it's a combination of police cars, signs and barricades. Unfortunately, every year there are drivers who steal the signs, throw the barricades in the snow and criticize/ignore officers,” said Carlquist.

Travel is expected to become even more challenging over the weekend as a winter storm is expected to hit the Sierras, bringing temperatures well below freezing and as low as five degrees.

With driving conditions nearly impossible for even the most experienced snow riders, the National Weather Service has suggested that those planning to travel should “change your plans if at all possible.”

Cars plunged down a slippery hill, slamming into a growing group of crashed vehicles piling up at the bottom

A video was uploaded to TikTok showing non-stop traffic going up the mountain on January 4.

“It snowed two inches, so the whole world decides to go skiing in Tahoe,” the report captioned their shocking video.

Tahoe locals rushed to the comments to share their own experiences with the intense traffic of tourists wanting to make the most of Lake Tahoe's excellent snow sports conditions.

“I don't miss living there for this reason,” one account said.

Someone said, “I'm going to Tahoe from January 16 to 20. Hopefully more snow, but I don't want it to be crowded,” to which the original account replied, “Oh, it's going to be a zoo that weekend.”