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. Prepare for a California storm Download our app for the latest alerts Interactive tracking, Doppler radar See a real-time traffic map Track the latest highway closures and chain control information Sierra Weather Impact Day The KCRA 3 Weather Team is calling Saturday Impact Day specifically for the Sierra Due to expected heavy snow, winds and travel concerns. Our weather team encourages people traveling into the Sierra to wait until Sunday. Heavy snow is expected to begin falling by 11 a.m. Saturday, with the range likely to take hold along Interstate 80, Interstate 50 and Interstate 88 by midday. The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds across the lanes will create very low visibility for drivers. | Sierra Snow Schedule | See an hour-by-hour look at possible snow totals. Live updates on road conditions and snow impacts 2:54 p.m.: Caltrans said traffic has been released on eastbound Interstate 80 at the Nevada state line. Westbound traffic remains backed up. 1:37 p.m.: Caltrans said traffic in both directions of I-80 traffic at the Nevada state line is being altered due to several outages. Eastbound traffic is also being changed at Truckee. 1:24 p.m.: CHP said it is holding up westbound I-80 traffic at Truckee and the Nevada state line due to multiple crashes and rollovers over Donner Peak. Officials also stated that weather conditions at Donner Peak were worsening and advised drivers to return until the storm subsided. 12:56 p.m.: According to road officials, chain controls are in effect from the Fore Bay area to the Nevada state line on Interstate 80. Eastbound trucks are being checked at Applegate, and drivers must have the maximum number of chains to proceed. Westbound trucks are checked five miles west of Reno, and drivers must also have the maximum chains. Along Highway 50, there are ranges from Kypors to Myers. On Interstate 89, chains are required from 5 miles north of the Interstate 50 interchange 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 have been lifted from the Nevada state line to Eagle Lakes. 11:49 a.m.: CHP Truckee reported several breakaways and crashes over Donner Summit amid falling snow. Conditions.11:24 a.m.: Chain controls have been issued for Interstate 80 over Donner Peak. Accumulation at pass level (about 7,000 feet) will range from 12 to 18 inches of snow. Ski resorts expect more snow. At 5,000 feet, which includes Blue Canyon, 8 to 12 inches are expected. Pollock Pines at 4,000 feet can reach 4 to 6 inches. Communities below 3,000 feet including Foresthill, Camino, Pioneer and Twain Harte could see a few inches of measurable snow. The snow level could drop to 2,500 feet by Saturday afternoon with a layer of snow possible 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. Rainfall Forecast for the Greater Sacramento Area While this system will produce nuisance snow, rain in the valley and lower foothills will have less of an impact on Saturday. A short period of fast-moving rain is expected in the valley around midday, but totals will likely range around one-tenth of an inch to two-tenths of an inch. Rainfall totals in the lower foothills could reach up to a quarter of an inch. There will also be a noticeable southerly breeze with gusts peaking around 25 mph. Saturday and Sunday will be cooler than recent weekends, with highs in Sacramento in the low 50s. Temperatures are expected to drop to the mid-30s on Sunday morning. | Regional weather forecast | Traveling to the Bay Area or SoCal? Watch a look at the conditions expected this weekend across California in the video below. Looking ahead, Sunday will be dry with temperatures rising to around 50 degrees in Sacramento. Follow our weather team at KCRA on social media, Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and Twitter, Meteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and Twitter, Meteorologist Eileen Gavora on Facebook, Meteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on Facebook, Meteorologist / Climate Correspondent Heather Waldman on Facebook and Twitter Watch our forecasts on TV or online Here's where to find our latest climate forecast videos. You can also watch a live broadcast of our latest news bulletin here. The banner on our site turns red when we are live. We also stream 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.
Prepare for a California storm
Weather impact day in the sierra
The KCRA 3 weather team is calling Saturday Impact Day specifically for the Sierra due to the expected heavy snow, winds and travel concerns. Our weather team encourages people traveling into the Sierra to wait until Sunday.
Heavy snow is expected to begin falling by 11 a.m. Saturday, with the range likely to take hold along Interstate 80, Interstate 50 and Interstate 88 by midday.
The combination of heavy snow and gusty winds across the lanes will create very low visibility for drivers.
| Sierra Snow Schedule | See an hour-by-hour look at possible snow totals
Live updates of road conditions and snow effects
2:54 PM: Eastbound traffic was released on Interstate 80 at the Nevada state line, Caltrans said. Westbound traffic remains backed up.
1:37 pm: Caltrans said traffic in both directions of I-80 traffic at the Nevada state line is being altered due to multiple outages. Eastbound traffic is also being changed at Truckee.
1:24 pm: CHP said it is detaining westbound I-80 traffic at Truckee and the Nevada state line due to several crashes and rollovers over Donner Peak. Officials also stated that weather conditions during the Donner Summit were worsening and advised drivers to turn back until the storm subsided.
12:56 PM: According to road officials, chain controls are in effect from the Fore Bay area to the Nevada state line on Interstate 80. Eastbound trucks are being checked at Applegate, and drivers must have the maximum number of chains to proceed. Westbound trucks are checked five miles west of Reno, and drivers must also have the maximum chains.
Along Highway 50, there are ranges from Kypors to Myers.
On Interstate 89, chains are required from 5 miles north of the Interstate 50 interchange to Bliss State Park in El Dorado County. Chains are also required from Bliss State Park to Tahoma in Placer County.
11:50 AM: The chain controls from the Nevada state line to Eagle Lakes.
11:49 AM: CHP Truckee reported numerous breakaways and accidents over Donner Summit amid snowy conditions.
11:24 AM: Chain controls for Interstate 80 were issued during the Donner Summit.
Accumulation at trail level (about 7,000 feet) will range from 12 to 18 inches of snow. Ski resorts expect more snow.
At 5,000 feet, which includes Blue Canyon, 8 to 12 inches are expected. Pollock Pines at 4,000 feet can reach 4 to 6 inches.
Communities below 3,000 feet including Foresthill, Camino, Pioneer and Twain Harte could see a few inches of measurable snow.
The snow level could drop to 2,500 feet by Saturday afternoon with a layer of snow possible 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 area
While this system will produce nuisance snow, rain in the valley and lower foothills will be less impactful on Saturday.
A short period of fast-moving rain is expected in the valley around midday, but totals will likely range from one-tenth of an inch to two-tenths of an inch. Rainfall totals in the lower foothills could reach up to a quarter of an inch.
There will also be a noticeable southerly breeze with gusts peaking around 25 mph.
Saturday and Sunday will be cooler than recent weekends, with highs in Sacramento in the low 50s. Temperatures are expected to drop to the mid-30s on Sunday morning.
| Regional weather forecast | Traveling to the Bay Area or SoCal? Watch a look at the conditions expected this weekend across California in the video below.
Looking ahead, Sunday will be dry with temperatures rising to 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 forecasts. You can also watch a live broadcast of our latest news bulletin here. The banner on our website turns red when we are live.
We also stream on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.
