Blizzard Conditions Slam Northern California, Impacting Transportation and Power

Summarized by AI
Sun Mar 03 2024
Northern California is experiencing severe blizzard conditions, bringing damaging winds and heavy snowfall that have significantly impacted travel and resulted in power outages.
**Weather Warnings and Impacts**
Approximately 6.5 million people are under winter weather alerts across the Mountain West, with blizzard warnings remaining in effect for the Sierra Nevada. The most extreme conditions are occurring at higher elevations, where whiteout conditions and winds exceeding 100 mph have been reported.
**Road Closures and Travel Advisories**
A 70-mile stretch of Interstate 80 near the Nevada state line has been closed for more than a day due to stranded drivers. The California Highway Patrol has reported "a mass amount of vehicles stuck over Donner Summit," with emergency personnel facing challenges in reaching motorists due to blizzard conditions.
**Power Outages and Infrastructure Damage**
As of Sunday afternoon, over 15,000 homes and businesses in California were without power, with widespread outages expected as winds down trees and power lines. The California Department of Transportation has reported damage to snow removal equipment, hampering efforts to clear roadways.
**Ski Resort Closures and Safety Concerns**
Numerous ski resorts and chairlifts have remained closed, including Palisades Tahoe and Mammoth. The Sierra-at-Tahoe resort shared images of snow piling up at its maintenance shop and vehicles buried in snow. The National Weather Service has warned of extreme avalanche danger through Sunday afternoon in the Central Sierra and Greater Lake Tahoe area.
**Weather Forecast and Outlook**
The blizzard conditions are expected to gradually wane through Monday, but additional snow and cold temperatures are forecast for the coming days. Rounds of mountain snow are expected to reach as far east as the central Rockies, and a new storm system is expected to arrive on Monday.