The major thoroughfares through Northern California’s high country were seeing extended closures as extreme weather blankets the region.
Highway 50 reopened Wednesday morning, but officials cautioned that conditions remain slick and more wet weather was on the way.
I-80 was closed from Colfax to the Nevada state line, but reopened by 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Highway officials later closed eastbound I-80 over Donner Summit Wednesday evening, but have since reopened it with chain controls.
As of late Wednesday afternoon, westbound I-80 was closed to all semitrucks at the Nevada state line. For eastbound, trucks were required to carry chains.
Along Highway 50, the closure was in effect from Pointview Drive in Placerville to Meyers. That closure was lifted a little before 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Chain controls remain in effect on Highway 50 from Kyburz to Meyers.
Near-whiteout conditions were buffeting Sierra mountain passes throughout the day on Tuesday, and by Wednesday night, the snow level had reached Applegate at around 2,000′ elevation, the lowest since 2023.
Wet weather is expected to continue through Tuesday into Wednesday, with some lower elevation areas down to the foothills also expecting some snow.
Cecilio Padilla
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