Christmas Travel Warning Issued as Another Major Winter Storm Targets Northern California
Holiday travelers heading into Northern California’s mountains are being urged to rethink their Christmas plans as a powerful winter storm threatens to deliver feet of snow, flooding, and dangerous travel conditions across the region.
The National Weather Service has issued a Christmas travel warning for the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascades, where snow is expected to fall from Tuesday night through Friday morning. Forecasts call for up to one foot of snow at lower mountain passes and as much as four feet at the highest elevations above 5,500 feet.
According to the National Weather Service Sacramento, heavy snowfall is expected across the Sierra Nevada, western Plumas County, and Lassen Volcanic National Park. Gusty southwest winds could reach 45 to 50 mph, creating whiteout conditions and drastically reducing visibility.
Major travel corridors including Interstate 80 and Highway 50 could see chain controls, road closures, and long delays. Officials warn that travel could become “very difficult to impossible,” particularly during peak holiday driving times.
In addition to snow, a flood watch remains in effect for the Sacramento Valley, northern San Joaquin Valley, Sierra foothills, and parts of the Coastal Range as a series of Pacific storms bring heavy rain. The NWS warns of possible rockslides, mudslides, and flooding in low-lying and urban areas.
Travelers are strongly encouraged to delay trips if possible, monitor road conditions via 511, and carry winter emergency kits if mountain travel is unavoidable.
