I-80, Highway 50 Back Open In Sierra; Another Cold Storm On The Way
COLFAX (CBS13) — Interstate 80 and Highway 50 in the high country are back open after going through closures Tuesday morning after a significant snowstorm moved in.
I-80 was completely shut down overnight. It just reopened to passenger cars with chain controls. No tractor trailers yet. @CBSSacramento @GoodDaySac pic.twitter.com/zLUnkEGKG9
— Rachel Wulff (@rachelwulff) December 14, 2021
Caltrans says I-80 was closed from the junction Highway 174 in Colfax to the Nevada State Line. Downed power lines are the main issue, along with the whiteout conditions that have popped up at times during the storm.
I-80 was back open in both directions by 7 a.m. Chain controls are in effect, however, and big rigs are still being held.
Highway 50 was closed 3 miles east of Placerville to Meyers as Caltrans crews do avalanche control. It was reopened around 9:30 a.m.
UPDATE: Highway 50 is back OPEN after being closed in @CountyElDorado for avalanche control work. Chain controls are from Sawmill (3,600 elevation) to Meyers. Here's what it looks like this morning at the Y in @cityofslt. More snow in the forecast later this week! pic.twitter.com/KePd39rtYI
— Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) December 14, 2021
While the storm is dissipating over the valley, the snow is expected to intensify through the morning in the Sierra. The snow level is expected to be 1,500-2000', with 2-3' more of snow expected above the 5000' level.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for the Sierra region until 10 p.m. Tuesday, but heavy snow is only expected through around 2 p.m. Snow showers are still expected through the afternoon, however.
Another cold storm is also expected to hit Northern California starting Wednesday and lasting through Thursday. Forecasts show that the snow level could be even lower with this next round - possibly down to the 500-2,500' level.