Sacramento, CA – Travel across Northern California is turning treacherous as heavy snow and wind sweep from the Sacramento Valley into the Sierra, with some mountain peaks set to pick up as much as 4 feet before the storm winds down Thursday night.
According to the National Weather Service in Sacramento, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday for Shasta County, the northern Sacramento Valley, the Motherlode and the west slope of the northern Sierra Nevada. Snow totals could reach 1 foot between 1,000 and 3,000 feet, 2 to 3 feet above 3,000 feet, and up to 4 feet at the highest elevations. Even areas below 1,000 feet in Shasta and Tehama counties may see up to 2 inches. Winds are expected to gust between 45 and 55 mph.
Interstate 5 near Redding and Shasta Lake, Highway 44 near Burney and mountain routes around Quincy and Blue Canyon could face chain controls or closures. Gusty winds may bring down trees and power lines, raising the risk of scattered outages. Low visibility will make travel especially hazardous in open areas and higher terrain.
Residents should avoid non-essential travel, carry chains and emergency supplies, and fully charge devices in case of power loss. Snow levels could dip near 300 feet at times in Shasta and Tehama counties before rising again.
The storm gradually tapers late Thursday night, but slick roads may linger into Friday morning. Additional advisories could follow if colder air holds in place.
