![As a three-day weekend approaches, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through early Sunday for the Sierra Nevada, discouraging travel in the mountains with several feet of new snow expected. Friday morning at about 5:30 a.m., Caltrans announced that Interstate 80 remained closed “due to whiteout conditions on the Summit” and traffic […]](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.record-bee.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/stormwarningfri-1.jpg?w=441 "stormwarningfri")
As a three-day weekend approaches, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning through early Sunday for the Sierra Nevada, discouraging travel in the mountains with several feet of new snow expected.
Friday morning at about 5:30 a.m., Caltrans announced that Interstate 80 remained closed “due to whiteout conditions on the Summit” and traffic was being turned around, eastbound at Colfax and westbound at the Nevada state line. The California Highway Patrol first reported the I-80 closure Thursday at about 7:30 p.m.
Meteorologists with the weather service in Sacramento said travel is “highly discouraged,” and those who choose to drive to the mountains should prepare for chain controls and travel delays.
“Through Sunday morning we could see anywhere from 3 to 6 feet of snow, with locally heavier amounts,” said Emily Heller, a meteorologist with the weather service in Sacramento. “There doesn’t really look like any break in snowfall in the mountains,” through early Sunday morning.
As of Friday, the winter storm warning is in effect through Sunday at 4 a.m. Snow levels are expected to remain around 2,500 to 3,000 feet, Heller said.
Heller added: “The next best travel day might be Sunday.”
UPDATE: I-80 HARD CLOSURE due to whiteout conditions on the Summit. Traffic is being turned: EB at Colfax, WB at Nevada state line, SR 20 EB at Nevada City. pic.twitter.com/J57BKtjsFC
— Caltrans District 3 (@CaltransDist3) February 15, 2019
A parade of storms have blanketed the Sierra Nevada with several feet of snow since Jan. 1. Thursday, the Sierra Nevada snowpack — the source of one-third of California’s water supply — measured at 135 percent of its historical average for this time of year.
And the snowpack also now stands at 102 percent of its historical average for April 1, considered the end of the snow/winter season by the state’s water managers.
On Jan. 1, the snowpack stood at 69 percent of average for that time of year, and 25 percent of the April 1 average.
Staff writer Paul Rogers contributed to this report.
