Westbound Interstate 80, Highway 50 reopen as snow clears in Northern California
The previously closed interstate highways through the Sierra Nevada are beginning to reopen as conditions begin to improve.
The California Highway Patrol announced on social media the closures of Highway 50 and Highway 88 due to the storm on Tuesday, Feb. 17, according The Bee’s previous reporting. Highway 50 was closed from Point View Drive in Placerville to Meyers in El Dorado County because of spinouts. State Route 88 was closed from Dew Drop in Amador County to 5 miles west of Picketts Junction in Alpine County.
Whiteout conditions prompted the California Department of Transportation to shut down traffic in both directions on Interstate 80 from Colfax to the Nevada state line, according to a social media post from the department.
The California Department of Transportation in District 3 posted an update on its Instagram Wednesday morning that Highway 50 is now open in both directions and westbound I-80 is open to “vehicle traffic, but remains closed to trucks.”
Eastbound I-80 is estimated to open in the afternoon.
Latest doppler radar loop for Northern California
The winter storm warning remains in effect until Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office.
Heavy snow was expected to intensify Wednesday night through Thursday morning. After a brief break, rain and heavy snowfall were expected to return Saturday night.
It said the snow level could reach as low as 1,000 feet of elevation. Cities including Auburn and Cameron Park sit at around 1,200 feet of elevation, but it is unclear where the snow may fall.
