If you’re headed to the Lake Tahoe area this weekend, be prepared because a storm system will bring heavy snow to the Sierra on Saturday.Get California Storm ReadyDownload our app for the latest alertsTrack interactive, Doppler radarSee our real-time traffic mapTrack the latest highway closures and chain control informationSierra Weather Impact Day The KCRA 3 weather team is calling Saturday an Impact Day specifically for the Sierra due to expected heavy snow, wind and travel concerns. Our weather team encourages people who are traveling to the Sierra to hold off until Sunday. The heavy snow is expected to start by 11 a.m. Saturday, with chain controls likely along Interstate 80, Highway 50 and Highway 88 by midday. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds through the passes will create very low visibility for drivers. | Sierra Snow Timeline | See an hour-by-hour look at possible snow totals Live updates on road conditions, snow impacts7:30 p.m.: For Interstate 80 eastbound traffic, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from three-and-a-half miles east of Gold Run to the Nevada state line. Trucks are being screened at Applegate, and drivers must have maximum chains.For westbound traffic, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from the Nevada state line to Colfax. Trucks are being screened five miles west of Reno and must have chains.On Highway 50, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from Pollock Pines to Meyers.On Highway 88, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from about three-and-a-half miles west of Dew Drop in Amador County to about three-and-a-half miles east of Woodfords in Alpine County.On Highway 89, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from Picketts Junction in Alpine County to about three miles south of Highway 50 Junction in El Dorado County.6:34 p.m.: The CHP Amador division said Highway 88 at Carson Spur is reopen after crews temporarily closed it for avalanche control.5:47 p.m.: KCRA 3 Reporter Michelle Bandur drove by a vehicle that lost control and crashed along Highway 50 near Pollock Pines. People were seen trying to push the car back on the road.5:37 p.m.: The CHP Amador division said Highway 88 at Carson Spur is closed for avalanche control. There is no estimated time of reopening.4:19 p.m.: The Amador Fire Department said multiple vehicles were stuck in the roadway near Highway 88 and Tiger Creek Road in Pioneer. Nobody was injured.3:34 p.m.: Westbound Interstate 80 has reopened in Truckee and at the Nevada state line with chain restrictions. 2:54 p.m.: Eastbound Interstate 80 traffic has been released at the Nevada state line, Caltrans said. Westbound traffic is still being held.1:37 p.m.: Caltrans said traffic in both directions of I-80 traffic at the Nevada state line is being turned around because of multiple spinouts. Eastbound traffic in Truckee is also being turned around.1:24 p.m.: CHP said it is holding westbound I-80 traffic in Truckee and the Nevada state line due to multiple crashes and spinouts over Donner Summit. Officials also mentioned that weather conditions over Donner Summit are getting worse and advise drivers to turn back until the storm subsides.12:56 p.m.: According to road officials, chain controls are in effect from the Forebay area to the Nevada state line on Interstate 80. Eastbound trucks are being screened at Applegate, and drivers must have maximum chains to proceed. Westbound trucks are being screened five miles west of Reno, and drivers must also have maximum chains.Along Highway 50, there are chains from Kyburz to Meyers.At Highway 89, chains are required from 5 miles north of the Highway 50 junction to Bliss State Park in El Dorado County. Chains are also required from Bliss State Park to Tahoma in Placer County.11:50 a.m.: Chain controls are up from the Nevada state line to Eagle Lakes.11:49 a.m.: CHP Truckee has reported multiple spinouts and crashes over Donner Summit amid snowy conditions.11:24 a.m.: Chain controls were issued for Interstate 80 over Donner Summit.Where snow could fall and how muchAccumulations at pass level (around 7,000 feet) will range from 12 to 18 inches of snow. Ski resorts will expect more snow. At 5,000 feet, which includes Blue Canyon, expect 8 to 12 inches. Pollock Pines at 4,000 feet could get 4 to 6 inches. Communities at 3,000 feet including Foresthill, Camino, Pioneer and Twain Harte could see a couple of inches of measurable snow. The snow level could drop as low as 2,500 feet by Saturday afternoon with the possibility of a coating of snow at that elevation but little accumulation. This includes Nevada City, Georgetown, Glencoe and Groveland. In the evening, snow will continue to fall but without the same intensity.Rain forecast for the greater Sacramento regionWhile this system will produce disruptive snow, rain in the Valley and lower Foothills will be less impactful on Saturday. A brief period of fast-moving showers should be expected in the Valley in the middle of the day, but totals will likely be around one-tenth of an inch to two-tenths of an inch. Rain totals in the lower Foothills could reach a quarter of an inch.There will be a noticeable south breeze as well with gusts that peak around 25 mph. Both Saturday and Sunday will be cooler than recent weekends, with highs in Sacramento in the low 50s. Temperatures are expected to dip into the mid 30s Sunday morning. | Regional Weather Forecast | Traveling to the Bay Area or SoCal? See a look at conditions that are expected this weekend across California in the video below. Looking ahead, Sunday will be dry with high around 50 degrees in Sacramento. Follow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Eileen Javora on FacebookMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist/climate reporter Heather Waldman on Facebook and TwitterWatch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
If you’re headed to the Lake Tahoe area this weekend, be prepared because a storm system will bring heavy snow to the Sierra on Saturday.
Get California Storm Ready
Sierra Weather Impact Day
The KCRA 3 weather team is calling Saturday an Impact Day specifically for the Sierra due to expected heavy snow, wind and travel concerns. Our weather team encourages people who are traveling to the Sierra to hold off until Sunday.
The heavy snow is expected to start by 11 a.m. Saturday, with chain controls likely along Interstate 80, Highway 50 and Highway 88 by midday.
The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds through the passes will create very low visibility for drivers.
| Sierra Snow Timeline | See an hour-by-hour look at possible snow totals
Live updates on road conditions, snow impacts
7:30 p.m.: For Interstate 80 eastbound traffic, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from three-and-a-half miles east of Gold Run to the Nevada state line. Trucks are being screened at Applegate, and drivers must have maximum chains.
For westbound traffic, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from the Nevada state line to Colfax. Trucks are being screened five miles west of Reno and must have chains.
On Highway 50, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from Pollock Pines to Meyers.
On Highway 88, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from about three-and-a-half miles west of Dew Drop in Amador County to about three-and-a-half miles east of Woodfords in Alpine County.
On Highway 89, chains are required on all vehicles except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires from Picketts Junction in Alpine County to about three miles south of Highway 50 Junction in El Dorado County.
6:34 p.m.: The CHP Amador division said Highway 88 at Carson Spur is reopen after crews temporarily closed it for avalanche control.
5:47 p.m.: KCRA 3 Reporter Michelle Bandur drove by a vehicle that lost control and crashed along Highway 50 near Pollock Pines. People were seen trying to push the car back on the road.
5:37 p.m.: The CHP Amador division said Highway 88 at Carson Spur is closed for avalanche control. There is no estimated time of reopening.
4:19 p.m.: The Amador Fire Department said multiple vehicles were stuck in the roadway near Highway 88 and Tiger Creek Road in Pioneer. Nobody was injured.
3:34 p.m.: Westbound Interstate 80 has reopened in Truckee and at the Nevada state line with chain restrictions.
2:54 p.m.: Eastbound Interstate 80 traffic has been released at the Nevada state line, Caltrans said. Westbound traffic is still being held.
1:37 p.m.: Caltrans said traffic in both directions of I-80 traffic at the Nevada state line is being turned around because of multiple spinouts. Eastbound traffic in Truckee is also being turned around.
1:24 p.m.: CHP said it is holding westbound I-80 traffic in Truckee and the Nevada state line due to multiple crashes and spinouts over Donner Summit. Officials also mentioned that weather conditions over Donner Summit are getting worse and advise drivers to turn back until the storm subsides.
12:56 p.m.: According to road officials, chain controls are in effect from the Forebay area to the Nevada state line on Interstate 80. Eastbound trucks are being screened at Applegate, and drivers must have maximum chains to proceed. Westbound trucks are being screened five miles west of Reno, and drivers must also have maximum chains.
Along Highway 50, there are chains from Kyburz to Meyers.
At Highway 89, chains are required from 5 miles north of the Highway 50 junction to Bliss State Park in El Dorado County. Chains are also required from Bliss State Park to Tahoma in Placer County.
11:50 a.m.: Chain controls are up from the Nevada state line to Eagle Lakes.
11:49 a.m.: CHP Truckee has reported multiple spinouts and crashes over Donner Summit amid snowy conditions.
11:24 a.m.: Chain controls were issued for Interstate 80 over Donner Summit.
Where snow could fall and how much
Accumulations at pass level (around 7,000 feet) will range from 12 to 18 inches of snow. Ski resorts will expect more snow.
At 5,000 feet, which includes Blue Canyon, expect 8 to 12 inches. Pollock Pines at 4,000 feet could get 4 to 6 inches.
Communities at 3,000 feet including Foresthill, Camino, Pioneer and Twain Harte could see a couple of inches of measurable snow.
The snow level could drop as low as 2,500 feet by Saturday afternoon with the possibility of a coating of snow at that elevation but little accumulation. This includes Nevada City, Georgetown, Glencoe and Groveland.
In the evening, snow will continue to fall but without the same intensity.
Rain forecast for the greater Sacramento region
While this system will produce disruptive snow, rain in the Valley and lower Foothills will be less impactful on Saturday.
A brief period of fast-moving showers should be expected in the Valley in the middle of the day, but totals will likely be around one-tenth of an inch to two-tenths of an inch. Rain totals in the lower Foothills could reach a quarter of an inch.
There will be a noticeable south breeze as well with gusts that peak around 25 mph.
Both Saturday and Sunday will be cooler than recent weekends, with highs in Sacramento in the low 50s. Temperatures are expected to dip into the mid 30s Sunday morning.
| Regional Weather Forecast | Traveling to the Bay Area or SoCal? See a look at conditions that are expected this weekend across California in the video below.
Looking ahead, Sunday will be dry with high around 50 degrees in Sacramento.
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
Watch our forecasts on TV or online
Here’s where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we’re live.
We’re also streaming on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
