Heavy Sierra snow, soaking rain and gusty winds will continue to impact the Northern California region through Thursday night.
The KCRA 3 weather team issued an Alert Day because of the major Sierra travel delays due to vehicle spinouts and piles of snow. Soaking rain could also lead to ponding and minor roadway flooding, and winds surpassing 40 mph could contribute to power outages and tree damage.
Sierra travel is highly discouraged unless it is absolutely necessary. But if commuters must travel, they should be aware that speed limits are adjusted when chain controls are in effect. Significant delays are occurring because of traffic holds and spin-outs.
On Highway 50, the speed limit is 25 mph. On Interstate 80, it is 30 mph.
Weather-related resources below
Below, you will find live weather-related updates as they happen.
7:54 p.m.: The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District rescued a driver who was stranded by high water along Scott Road at Deer Creek.
Crews responded to the water rescue around 6:46 p.m.
Officials said the water overflowed, disabling the Jeep the woman was driving.
The fire district said the driver was safely pulled from the vehicle and is being medically evaluated. Her vehicle was also removed from the water.
Scott Road is closed at Prairie City Road on the north end and at Sloughhouse on the south end.
6:29 p.m.: Reporter Carolina Estrada was driving up Highway 50 toward the Sierra. She said they were starting to see snow-covered roads in Strawberry and roads were slushy, but there was not much traffic.
#SNOW chain controls at Kyburz on HWY 50. pic.twitter.com/t3AIevKibe
6:04 p.m.: Reporter Lee Anne Denyer said the snow falling in Truckee could be best described as “clumpy.”
Drivers are still advised to avoid travel if they can, but take it slow and expect delays if they need to travel through the Sierra.
5:00 p.m.: Rock Creek Road is closed near Highway 193 due to an active rockslide, the California Highway Patrol said.
Officials said the slide is not impacting the highway.
No injuries were reported.
The El Dorado County Department of Transportation will work to clear the roadway.
4:44 p.m.: Caltrans shared several updates on Sierra highway travel Thursday afternoon. On eastbound I-80, chains are required from Nyack to the state line and semi-trucks are being held at Applegate. On westbound I-80, semi-trucks are being held at the state line and all traffic is being held at Truckee.
Eastbound State Route 20 is closed at Nevada Street.
On US 50, chains are required from Fred’s Place to Meyers.
3:26 p.m.: Traffic is being held on eastbound Interstate 80 at Drum Forebay and westbound at the state line and Truckee. Snow in the Sierra is causing multiple spinouts.
I-80 UPDATE: All eastbound traffic being held at Drum, all westbound traffic being held at the state line and Truckee due to multiple spinouts and heavy snow https://t.co/JTrMNM2KZs
12:21 p.m.: Meteorologist Heather Waldman said a thunderstorm is headed toward Highway 50 near Cameron Park. Hail and a funnel cloud are also possible.
12:21 PM THURSDAY
nasty looking thunderstorm headed toward Hwy 50 near Cameron Park.
Hail likely. There is also the potential for a funnel cloud. @kcranews pic.twitter.com/riehDFoLS3
12:16 p.m.: The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement for the El Dorado Hills, Diamond Springs and Shingle Springs areas, citing risk of 30 mph winds and pea-sized hail. It will last until 1:15 p.m.
9:39 a.m.: Meteorologist Tamara Berg shares how much snow has fallen in the past 24 hours.
8:45 a.m.: Reporter Mike TeSelle demonstrates how soaking the rain has been in San Joaquin County.
8:36 a.m.: A big rig is on its side along Interstate 80 near Floriston, the California Highway Patrol Truckee division said.
The driver only has minor injuries, CHP said.
When you think you’ve escaped the snow, but the ice says, ‘Not so fast!’ ❄️🚛💨
This big rig sent it a little too hard on the lower elevations, proving that slick roads aren’t just a mountain-top problem! Luckily, the driver escaped with only minor injuries..
8:34 a.m.: An avalanche warning is in effect due to heavy snow and strong winds, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.
“Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended,” the center said. “Wet loose avalanches could occur at lower elevations along with storm slabs with wet snow characteristics.”
According to the center, the avalanche danger is in the “High” category, the second-highest level behind “Extreme.”
The warning, which is in effect through 5 a.m. Friday, is for the Sierra between Yuba Pass on the north and Ebbetts Pass on the south, including the greater Lake Tahoe area.
Ski areas or highways where avalanche control programs exist are not included in the warning.
8:01 a.m.: A 19-year-old woman is lucky to be alive after a crash where her vehicle went through the guardrail on Highway 70, the California Highway Patrol Quincy division said.
Pictures shared by CHP show the guardrail impaled through the driver and front passenger seat.
CHP said the woman went to the hospital with only moderate injuries. The pictures also show slick roads from snow.
7:50 a.m.: The left lane of westbound Interstate 205 is blocked near MacArthur Drive in the Tracy area due to a jackknifed big rig, Caltrans said. There is no estimated time of reopening.
#TrafficAlert #Tracy #1 (left) lane of westbound I-205 is blocked near MacArthur Drive due to jack-knifed big rig. No ETO. Expect delays. #knowbeforeyougo with https://t.co/KHwTwDD4mo pic.twitter.com/QCD055BWXf
7:42 a.m.: Reporter Mike Teselle is at the scene of a box truck carrying sushi tilted on its side in Lodi.
The truck is on the center divide of Highway 99 north of Turner Road.
7:40 a.m.: Meteorologist Tamara Berg said rains will weaken after 9 a.m. Around noontime, isolated showers are still expected but from 3 to 6 p.m., moderate-to-heavy showers return.
7:30 a.m.: Highway 88 at Carson Pass in Alpine County is closed for avalanche control, Caltrans said. There is no estimated time of reopening.
#TravelAlert Caltrans has closed SR-88 @ Carson Spur in #AmadorCounty due to heavy snow @ 4AM on 2/13/25. No current ETO.
For real-time winter HWY updates #KnowBeforeYouGo w. Caltrans QuickMaps app on mobile devices!@CaltransHQ @AmadorChp @KWconditions @CHPSouthLake @CHPAlerts pic.twitter.com/KybWCWWwvA
7:25 a.m.: Caltrans has released traffic at westbound I-80 at Truckee about 20 minutes after holding traffic due to multiple spinouts.
7:08 a.m.: The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for parts of the Sacramento Valley, the Foothills and the Sierra due to moderate-to-heavy rain.
It is in effect through 5:15 p.m. Thursday.
The Flood Advisory now includes portions of the Sierra foothills due to moderate to heavy rain.
Use caution while driving and never drive through flooded roads! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/cuoOIKtpuW
7:06 a.m.: The number of SMUD customers without power has decreased to 970. The utility confirmed the cause of the outages to have been storm-related.
7:05 a.m.: All westbound Interstate 80 traffic is being held at Truckee in Nevada County due to multiple spinouts, Caltrans said. There is no estimated time of reopening.
6:53 a.m.: Trucks are being turned around at eastbound Interstate 80 on Applegate due to multiple spinouts and traction concerns, Caltrans said.
6:50 a.m.: KCRA 3 traffic expert Brian Hickey came across a crash involving a big rig on westbound Interstate 80 at Greenback Lane.
Traffic has been reduced to two lanes while first responders treat the people involved in the crash. The big rig can be seen along the right shoulder of the highway.
6:43 a.m.: About 610 Pacific Gas & Electric Co. customers in the Isleton and Walnut Grove areas of Sacramento County are without power. The cause is unknown, but soaking rain and gusty winds have been persistent for hours.
6:30 a.m.: Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn shows how much rain has fallen in the region as of this writing.
6 a.m.: Find a recap of our storm coverage from our 6 a.m. newscast in the video below.
4:34 a.m.: Highway 88 is closed from 3.5 miles east of Silver Lake to Kirkwood/Carson Spur in Amador County due to avalanche control, Caltrans said.
Highway 89 is also closed from the junction of Highway 395 in Mono County to the junction of Highway 4 at Monitor Pass in Alpine County due to heavy snow.
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