Sierra Nevada Winter Storm Disrupts Travel, Triggers Power Outages

Sierra Nevada Winter Storm Disrupts Travel, Triggers Power Outages...

A late-season winter storm slammed the Sierra Nevada mountains this weekend, dumping heavy snow and causing widespread disruptions across California and Nevada. The storm, which peaked on Saturday, brought whiteout conditions, road closures, and power outages to communities still recovering from earlier winter weather.

Over 3 feet of snow fell in higher elevations, with Donner Pass recording 38 inches by Sunday morning. Chain requirements were enforced on Interstate 80 and Highway 50, where multiple spinouts were reported. The California Highway Patrol responded to over 200 weather-related incidents between Friday and Sunday.

Pacific Gas & Electric reported nearly 15,000 customers without power across the Sierra foothills as of Sunday evening. The utility deployed additional crews but warned some outages could persist into Monday due to difficult repair conditions.

This storm is trending nationally because it represents an unusually late major snowfall during what has been one of California's wettest winters in decades. The Sierra snowpack currently stands at 135% of normal for mid-April, raising both flood concerns and hopes for drought relief.

Mammoth Mountain ski resort announced it will extend its season through at least Memorial Day due to the exceptional snowfall. Meanwhile, emergency managers warned of potential flooding in lower elevations as warmer temperatures return this week.

The National Weather Service expects another weaker system to move through the region on Tuesday, though with significantly less accumulation. Travelers are advised to check road conditions before heading into the mountains this week.