Bulk of storm ends as Sierra snow and valley rain ease up in Northern California
Light snow showers are “lingering” Friday morning in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the foothills, but the National Weather Service says the winter storm warning has expired after heavy snow blanketed the summit and lower elevations Thursday.
Just over 2 feet of snow fell at Squaw Valley, 20 inches dropped on Sierra-at-Tahoe, and between 8 and 10 inches fell in the Truckee area, according to the NWS Reno office.
The storm made mountain travel a trudge, but conditions are improving Friday. Traffic was held on Highway 50 at Echo Summit for about 45 minutes Thursday evening due to avalanche work. Caltrans also turned back eastbound Interstate 80 near Colfax due to spinouts, and a stretch of Highway 89 was also closed due to unsafe conditions.
According to Caltrans, Highway 89 remains closed near Emerald Bay, but the other highways are back open as of Friday morning, with chain controls still in effect.
Photos and videos posted by Caltrans showed roadways nearly whited out by midday Thursday. The storm was expected to drop between 1 and 2 feet of snow throughout much of the central and northern Sierra between Wednesday night and early Friday morning at elevations as low as 3,000 feet, with as much as 3 feet possible at higher elevations.
The storm came as a strong cold front passed through Northern California. According to the NWS Reno office, wind gusts surpassing 110 mph were observed at Squaw Valley and Alpine Summit before 1 p.m. Thursday.
Latest visible satellite loop for West Coast
What about rain in Sacramento?
Just under one-third of an inch of rain fell Thursday at Sacramento Executive Airport, according to the NWS.
The latest forecasts show a chilly and cloudy but dry weekend in store for the capital, with daytime highs in the mid-50s and overnight lows in the upper 30s through Sunday. A chance of light showers could return by Monday.
Farther north in the Sacramento Valley, Marysville Airport got close to a half-inch of rain Thursday, and the Redding area received about an inch.
Latest doppler radar loop for Northern California
This story was originally published January 17, 2020 at 7:54 AM.
