Another Storm Hits California, Though Sierra Nevadas Are Seeing The Worst Of It

It's another wet weekend in Southern California: Coastal and valley regions will see 0.5 to 1 inch of rain, with up to 3 inches possible in the foothills and mountains, according to the latest estimates from the National Weather Service.

In the mountains, snow is expected above 4,500 feet, with 7 to 14 inches expected in areas above an elevation of 6,000 feet.

There's also a 20% chance of an inch of snow along the Grapevine.

Snowstorm hits Sierra Nevada Mountains

Chains are installed on a big rig's tires during a storm, Saturday in Truckee

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Brooke Hess-Homeier

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AP

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The worst impact of the storm has been concentrated in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe, where the California Highway Patrol closed I-80 for an especially treacherous stretch of about 100 miles from the California-Nevada border to a reservoir northeast of Sacramento.

The road closure was due to spinouts along the highway, according to Caltrans. State agencies have not yet announced a timeframe for reopening.

In advance of the storm, the National Weather Service warned travelers of life-threatening conditions, including low visibility, up to 12 feet of snow in higher elevations and possible avalanches. As the storm intensified near Donner Pass last night, drivers who didn't heed the warnings and took to the highway got stranded.

How long will this last?

The blizzard brought winds of over 100 miles an hour and whiteout conditions to the highest parts of the mountains. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is closed on Saturday, due to extreme high winds and blizzard conditions. Yosemite National Park will be closed through Sunday.

The National Weather Service's blizzard and avalanche warnings extend through Sunday. Forecasters estimate that when all is said and done, as much as 20 inches of snow is likely in lower elevations near Lake Tahoe, with more possible — though fair warning for skiers, at least nine ski resorts in the area are still closed while the severe weather warnings are in effect.

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Courtesy NWS

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This snowfall will help to replenish the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, one of the most vital sources of water for the state. Surveyors measured about 47 inches of snow near Lake Tahoe at the end of February just before the storm, about three-quarters of the yearly average for this point in the year.