Rain continues in Sacramento, snow slide closes portion of Highway 89

The atmospheric river predicted to batter Southern California and the Central Coast this week is off to a slow start, but you wouldn’t know it from looking out your window in Sacramento.

Sacramento saw 0.97 inches of rain between Tuesday morning and 4 a.m. Wednesday, according to the California Nevada River Forecast Center. San Francisco, Stockton and Fresno all got less than a half-inch.

Three Lake Tahoe ski resorts — Kirkwood, Northstar and Mt. Rose across the Nevada border — reported 5 inches of fresh powder snow Wednesday morning, and all others received less. This week’s storm is expect to start warm before snow levels drop below 3,000 feet Thursday.

Mountain passes could receive up to five feet of snow by the time the storm passes Saturday morning, according to National Weather Service predictions.

A snow slide has closed Highway 89 in Emerald Bay near Eagle Point Campground, Caltrans reports. Motorists are advised to use an alternative route.

Because of safety concerns and the continuing storms, Highway 89 around Emerald Bay will remain closed for the next few days, according to Caltrans.

Sacramento faces another inch or two of rain, most of it late Wednesday and throughout the day Thursday, and possible thunderstorms, especially between noon and 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to the weather service.

Benjy Egel: (916) 321-1052, begel@sacbee.com

This story was originally published March 21, 2018 at 7:44 AM with the headline "Rain continues in Sacramento, snow slide closes portion of Highway 89."