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Sierra Nevada Braces for First Major Snowstorm of Season, Blizzard Conditions Possible
A powerful winter storm is forecast to bring up to 2 feet of snow and blizzard conditions to the Sierra Nevada starting Friday, making travel treacherous and prompting road closures in Yosemite.
The Sierra Nevada is preparing for its first significant snowstorm of the season, with forecasts calling for heavy snowfall and powerful winds that could create blizzard conditions and make travel impossible in some areas. The storm is expected to arrive Friday, delivering 8 to 18 inches of snow at higher elevations such as Donner Pass, and 18 to 24 inches along the highest peaks. Blizzard conditions may develop above 7,000 feet Friday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service, which has issued winter storm watches for much of the mountain range.
The most hazardous conditions are anticipated 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, and strong winds will whip the falling snow into near-whiteout conditions. Chain controls, traffic delays, and temporary highway closures are likely.
The stormâs arrival will be complicated by warm Pacific air, which should initially keep snow levels highâaround 7,000 to 8,000 feet. That means some lower-elevation communities and highways could see rain Friday afternoon before temperatures drop sharply and rain changes to snow. The exact timing of that changeover remains uncertain.
Rain is expected to reach the Tahoe Basin before sunset Friday, with snow levels dropping toward 6,000 feet by midnight. That could bring accumulating snow to Truckee, South Lake Tahoe, and other communities near the rain-snow transition overnight. Forecast models agree that substantial precipitation is coming but differ on how much will accumulate as snow at lower elevations. 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 late Sunday, though locally higher amounts are possible if snow levels fall faster than expected. At South Lake Tahoe, snowfall remains more uncertain, but about 2 to 6 inches in town appears reasonable by late Sunday, while nearby higher terrain could pick up more. Some forecasts suggest higher amountsâpotentially closer to 8 to 10 inchesâif colder air arrives sooner.
In Yosemite National Park, Tioga Road (a section of Highway 120) and Glacier Point Road will temporarily close at 5 p.m. Thursday due to the incoming storms.
The snowy stretch is likely to continue. 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.
Residents and travelers should monitor forecasts and road conditions, carry chains, and be prepared for winter driving conditions. The storm marks the beginning of what could be an active winter season in the Sierra, a critical source of Californiaâs water supply.