Storm Delivers Two Feet of Snow, Chain Controls to the NorCal Mountains
As the storm moved into Northern California on Tuesday afternoon, mountain areas began to prepare for the first significant snowfall of 2024. As Wednesday morning rolled around, the storm delivered in the form of two feet of snow, one of the more significant storms of the winter.
While the storm was only forecast to bring about a foot of snow, it was upgraded in the afternoon on Tuesday and it delivered. Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service reported more than 2 feet of snow falling on the Sierra.
Heavy snow fell over the Sierra above 4,000 feet feet overnight, bringing hazardous travel conditions. Snow showers today will bring several additional inches. #cawx pic.twitter.com/iedWS433QR
— NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) January 3, 2024
The snowfall hit the Sierra around 7 pm Tuesday, forcing chain controls near Lake Tahoe on both Highway 80 near Donner Summit and U.S. 50 near Echo Summit. The storm also completely closed Carson Spur Summit on Highway 88.
?? Chain control is up on I-80 over Donner Summit ??
— CHP Truckee (@CHP_Truckee) January 3, 2024
(01/02/24 7:30pm)
• I-80 westbound is R2 from Truckee to Eagle Lakes.
• I-80 eastbound is R2 from Cisco to Truckee.
• SR-267 is R2 from Northstar to Kings Beach.
• Trucks are at minimum restrictions.
As of Wednesday morning, chain controls and full closures are being seen in the mountains throughout NorCal:
Further north, the colder storm finally brought snow to the lower elevations of Mount Shasta. While the Mt. Shasta Ski Park looked bare on New Years Day, the storm began to lay a good foundation of snow at the base of the resort:
The storm will continue fall in the morning Wednesday and pass through by the afternoon. But there’s even more good news. Another storm is forecast to hit the region on Saturday, which should bring even more snow to the mountains.
Keep snow dancing, NorCal! Let’s make this a JanuBURIED!
