Good afternoon, Northern California.
by Michelle Schultz/KCRA Staff 12/20/2012 10:45:13 PM
We have a storm brewing, which will look different depending on where you are in NorCal. Strong winds, along with rain and snow are on tap.
by Michelle Schultz/KCRA Staff 12/20/2012 10:45:42 PM
Live updates will be posted throughout the evening (although they'll mostly just be getting out in front of the travel situation), and you can really expect our coverage to amp up tomorrow morning.
by Michelle Schultz/KCRA Staff 12/20/2012 10:48:15 PM
We've been snapping photos leading up to the storm, as well. View all.
by Michelle Schultz/KCRA Staff 12/20/2012 11:16:50 PM
Here's a view from Cisco Grove.
David Ramos/KCRA
by Gamaliel Ortiz/KCRA Staff edited by Michelle Schultz/KCRA Staff 12/21/2012 12:47:27 AM
I have been in the Sierra all day and form downtown Truckee to the ski lifts of Boreal Mountain Resort to eastbound I-80, it appears very few are heeding the warning to hit the road early for the holiday weekend travel in the Sierra.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:20:06 AM
Bryan Carlson of Caltrans is advising Sierra travelers to leave Thursday night or first thing Friday morning to avoid what he is expecting will be heavy snow and very heavy traffic.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:21:15 AM
Kevin Pierce of the Highway patrol says any Sierrabound travelers who wait until later Friday or anytime this weekend to be prepared for chain controls, spin-outs, accidents and a congested I-80. He told me that because of the expected crush of cars heading into the Sierra this weekend, delays are likely inevitable.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:30:12 AM
Bill Haley of The Truckee Hotel told me there are signs people are heeding the warning to leave early to beat the storm. He said the hotel has seen a spike in calls from people asking about last-minute room availability for tonight.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:31:21 AM
A word of caution for anyone waiting until tomorrow afternoon to head into the Sierra. KCRA3 has learned that Caltrans has a contingency plan in place to shut down 2 lanes of I-80 and create intentional traffic back-ups if the weather gets too intense and traffic too heavy.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:33:01 AM
Caltrans said it is called "metering" and it would take effect just outside Auburn near Applegate. Essentially it is creating a funnel to slow traffic to make it safer to travel over Donner Summit. Again, this is a contingency plan for Friday if traffic gets too heavy and the weather creates too many issues farther up the mountain.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:34:41 AM
For anyone thinking of heading out tonight, I-80 is dry and clear. Temperatures were relatively cold today so there was not too much snow melt to contribute to the potential for black ice.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:35:41 AM
To give you a sense of how busy the roads may be tommorrow and into the weekend, Jon Slaughter of Boreal Mountain Resort told me all the Tahoe ski areas are expecting over 100,000 skiers and snowboarders over the extended holiday period. That number does not include holiday travelers who are heading up but won't be visiting ski areas.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:37:45 AM
if you are considering lodging up here over the holiday, you may want to move fast. Some hotels are already approaching 80% of capacity or more for the holiday period.
by Mike TeSelle/Staff 12/21/2012 1:38:28 AM
Per Caltrans: Interstate 5 is closed northbound 10 miles north of Redding at Fawndale Road in Shasta County due to snow.
by Gamaliel Ortiz/KCRA Staff 12/21/2012 2:31:36 AM
Tom DuHain reports: Storm monitoring system inoperable since 2010
www.kcra.comby Gamaliel Ortiz/KCRA Staff 12/21/2012 4:49:54 AM
Rain is still north of Sacramento area and won't move in until the overnight hours. #kcrawx
Heading to Sierra for holiday? Caltrans says leave now.
Read more from reporter Mike TeSelle.by Michelle Schultz/KCRA Staff 12/21/2012 2:33:41 PM
First of three waves that will keep your weekend wet.
by dirk verdoorn 12/21/2012 2:40:00 PM
How much snow the Sierra can expect through Sunday.
by dirk verdoorn 12/21/2012 2:41:53 PM
