California blizzard: Heavy snow and winds batter the mountains as California's powerful blizzard closes roads and ski areas

CNN
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Blizzard conditions continued to batter Northern California over the weekend, with damaging winds and heavy snow falling from mountain ridges to valleys.

About 6.5 million people are under winter weather warnings across the Mountain West, and a blizzard warning remains in place in the Sierra Nevada.

The highest elevations of the mountain are experiencing the most extreme conditions, with whiteout conditions and hurricane-force winds.

Snow closed a 110-mile stretch of Interstate 80 near the Nevada border for more than a day Friday night after highway officials reported drivers stranded.

“Very heavy snowfall, ranging from 2 to 6 inches per hour, combined with very strong winds, at times exceeding 100 miles per hour, will continue to make travel impossible in the Sierra Nevada,” the Weather Prediction Center said.

Officials added that there is no hope of reopening.

weather service warned of “high to extreme” avalanche danger in the Central Sierra and Greater Lake Tahoe regions into Sunday afternoon.

About 5 to 12 feet of snow is expected to fall along the Sierra Nevada peaks by late Sunday, while damaging wind gusts “likely exceed 125 miles per hour” are expected to hit the mountain West, according to the Weather Prediction Center. It is expected.

“The winds are likely to bring down trees and power lines, causing widespread power outages,” the newspaper said. “Additionally, cooler temperatures will arrive in the West behind the early front, reducing snow levels in many valleys.”

Over 12,000 The number of homes and businesses without power in California was down from nearly 40,000 as of Sunday afternoon, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us.

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Many ski areas and chairlifts, including Palisades Tahoe, Sierra at Tahoe and Mammoth, were also closed Saturday, and some resorts warned of delayed starts Sunday.

Twin Bridges ski resort Sierra at Tahoe shared images with CNN showing snow piling up on the doors of the resort's maintenance shop and cars in the resort's guest parking lot buried in snow that fell overnight.

“Snow and strong winds along the Sierra Nevada and in the western mountains will gradually weaken through Monday. However, an unstable cold air mass will remain over a large swath of the western U.S. due to strengthening upper-level energy coming from the Pacific Ocean. ,” the National Weather Service said during a forecast discussion Sunday afternoon.

Sunday's storm will weaken as frequent mountain snow falls as far east as the central Rockies over the next few days. The Bureau of Meteorology says the new system will be installed on Monday.

Power outages and 'impossible' travel conditions

Extreme snowfall and ferocious winds in parts of the Sierra Nera and northern ranges will cause blizzards and whiteout conditions that will make travel “impossible,” the National Weather Service warned.

The storm caused U.S. 395, the main road leading to Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, to be closed for several hours Saturday due to whiteout, according to the California Department of Transportation.

Snow and wind left some vehicles stranded on the roads Friday, with some drivers needing help, according to the Truckee Highway Patrol Office. “A large number of vehicles are stranded on the summit of Donner Mountain.''

“Due to the snowstorm, emergency personnel and tow trucks had difficulty reaching the driver at one point,'' the agency said.

Many other roads in the area are closed due to the weather, and some roads have chain restrictions in place, requiring people to wear chains to proceed on the roadway.

The California Highway Patrol posted a photo Saturday afternoon of a car stuck in the snow. “Even our police officers sometimes get stuck in the snow! Even though blizzard-like conditions have not eased yet, our officers are still working hard to keep everyone safe. Avoid travel and stay informed of road conditions,” it said on Facebook.

On Sunday morning, Truckee Highway Patrol. video Interstate 80 was closed at Colfax and the Nevada state line as of 6 a.m. Sunday due to snow and poor visibility.

Officials said there is no timetable for reopening.

Yosemite National Park, which was closed Friday due to the storm, will partially reopen to visitors Sunday afternoon, park officials announced on Facebook.

A park official said, “Snow is expected to fall throughout the park.''

Park officials warned that visitors may be required to wear car tire chains and check road conditions.

A blizzard warning is in effect for the park area until 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the National Weather Service in Hanford, California.