California's Sierra Nevada will see heavy snow and powerful winds on Friday, making travel to Tahoe and across the crest dangerous, with another round of snow arriving late Sunday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Forecast snowfall totals have edged upward, with 8 to 18 inches likely across many higher elevations, including Donner Pass, and 18 to 24 inches possible along the highest peaks. Blizzard conditions could develop above 7,000 feet Friday afternoon and evening, potentially making travel impossible in some locations. Winter storm watches are in effect for much of the mountain range, the Chronicle reported. The most difficult conditions are expected Friday evening into early Saturday, particularly along Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, Highway 50 over Echo Summit and other high mountain passes. Snowfall rates could briefly exceed 2 inches per hour, while strong winds whip falling snow into near-whiteout conditions.
At the base of Palisades Tahoe, near 6,200 feet, roughly 8 to 12 inches of snow could fall by late Sunday afternoon. In Truckee, snow totals of 3 to 6 inches look plausible by then, though locally higher amounts are possible if snow levels fall faster than expected. At South Lake Tahoe, about 2 to 6 inches in town appears reasonable by late Sunday afternoon, while nearby higher terrain could pick up more; some forecasts suggest 8 to 10 inches if colder air arrives sooner, the Chronicle reported. Tioga Road, a section of Highway 120, and Glacier Point Road in Yosemite were set to close temporarily at 5 p.m. Thursday because of the incoming storms. Long-range models show at least two additional chances of snow across the Sierra next week, both of which should have enough cold air to bring additional snow to areas below 7,000 feet.