Mountain travel ‘hazardous to impossible’ as Northern California braces for next storm

With all the hype around this year’s snowpack, it’s tempting to check out Tahoe’s winter wonderland.

Just put it off for a few days.

A severe winter storm is moving into the region, ready to dump another 2 to 5 feet of snow on already packed terrain.

“This weekend will be extremely challenging to get up to the mountains,” said Scott Rowe, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

If you go — Friday is the best day to get up there. Just don’t expect to come back down anytime soon, he said.

The next winter storm will start Saturday and will last through early next week.

Rowe said travel to the Sierra will be “hazardous to impossible at times” and the farther east from Sacramento you go, the more trouble you will have.

The U.C. Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab has measured more than 8 feet of fresh snow in the last week alone. Mountain passes could be treacherous.

“It’s difficult to move the snow because there’s no where to put it,” Rowe said.

Rowe urged travelers to check with Caltrans before hitting the road and keeping their safety, and the safety of road crews, in mind.