The next level An atmospheric river storm is predicted to offer loads of snow for skiers who don't wish to waste time hitting the slopes.
Heavenly Ski Resort, Northstar California Resort, Mt. Rose and Palisades Tahoe were all open Friday as the primary wave of an atmospheric river storm prepared to shift and dump snow within the Sierra Nevada. Only a handful of lifts were open at each resort.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning that went into effect at 10 a.m. Friday and can last until 10 p.m. Saturday.
According to the weather service, between 1 and a pair of feet of snow will likely fall above 7,000 feet, with as much as 3 feet on the best peaks and winds of 125 mph. Below 7,000 feet, about 2 to six inches of snow is predicted, with southwest winds between 25 and 35 mph, gusting to 55 mph.
The journey is predicted to be “very difficult if not impossible,” the weather service’s warning said. The hazardous conditions are expected to affect Friday evening commutes in the world.
Early Friday, eastbound travelers on Interstate 80 in Applegate in Placer County were checked and drivers were required to have maximum chains to proceed. Westbound drivers were checked 5 miles west of Reno.
U.S. Highway 50 remained open Friday morning with no chain requirement.
There was 22 inches of snow on the bottom in Heavenly Friday morning, much of it still machine-made, in keeping with the Lake Tahoe Snow Report On the snow Website. Pacific Palisades had 18 to twenty inches of snow at its base and Northstar had 16 to twenty inches of packed powder. Mt Rose had 20-40 inches.
Northstar and Heavenly Ski Resort each had five lifts open, while Pacific Palisades and Mt. Rose had 4 lifts open.
The Sierra Avalanche Center has issued an avalanche warning for the backcountry. It got here into effect at 9 a.m. Friday and can remain in effect until 6 a.m. Saturday.
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