Tahoe storm update: What to expect, road and facility closures
Update as of Wednesday, February 18 at 8:05 a.m.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — After the heaviest day of the storm slammed the Sierra on Tuesday, residents across the region woke up Wednesday to snow-packed driveways and the familiar sound of shovels scraping pavement. Here’s what to expect over the next few days.
Snow continued through the night Tuesday, delivering what forecasters had predicted would be the peak of the system. Now, meteorologists say the storm is winding down — but not before a few more rounds of snow move through the region.
“This week’s big winter storm is in its final few hours as lighter snow and snow showers have generally pushed south of I-80,” the National Weather Service wrote in its forecast discussion. “While the majority of today and tonight will offer a small window to dig out from all this snow, isolated snow showers with modest additional accumulations (up to 3 inches) remain in the picture near the Sierra and northeast California.”
Lighter snow showers are expected Wednesday, offering a brief break before another fast-moving system arrives late Wednesday night into Thursday.
Snow levels are forecast to drop below 1,000 feet at times and range between 2,000 and 3,000 feet through Thursday, explained OpenSnow Forecaster Bryan Allegretto. That means snow could reach unusually low elevations, impacting foothill communities and extending into western Nevada.
NNWS forecasters say enhanced snow bands driven by convective activity could produce brief snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour or more, particularly Thursday afternoon.
Unlike the most recent storm, winds are not expected to be as significant a factor, with Sierra ridge-top gusts forecast to be lower than earlier in the week.
While a quieter pattern may arrive by Friday, forecasters urge residents and travelers to remain cautious as snow removal efforts continue and additional systems move through the region.
Another round of storms is expected to move in Sunday and continue into early next week, possibly through Tuesday or Wednesday. Those systems could bring additional periods of heavy snow to the northern Sierra.
Major Road Closures:
- Interstate 80: Donner Summit to the Pacific Crest Trail
- Highway 267: Northeast Road to Stewart Way
- Highway 89: Bliss State Park to Emerald Bay
- Highway 89: Luther Pass to Pickett’s Junction
- Highway 88: Red Lake Creek to Carson Spur
- Mount Rose Highway: Fairview Boulevard to Douglas Fir Drive
- Interstate 80 westbound near Ranch Road
Closures and Delays:
- All Washoe County School District schools are canceled.
- All Tahoe Truckee Unified School District schools are canceled.
- Truckee Courthouse is closed.
- University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe campus is closed.
- Lake Tahoe Community College is closed.
- Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort is closed.
- Palisades Tahoe announced a delayed and phased opening.
- Homewood Mountain Resort is closed with no estimated reopening time.
- Sugar Bowl Resort announced a delayed opening.
- Boreal Mountain California is closed.
- Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort announced a possible delayed opening.
