Travel in mountains a bad idea as latest storm arrives in north state – Chico Enterprise-Record

Vehicles move through moderate snowfall at the intersection of Clark Road and the Skyway in Paradise, Calif., Saturday, March 4, 2023. (Ed Booth/Enterprise-Record)

CHICO — With a heavy snowfall forecast to arrive tonight and through Sunday, officials at the National Weather Service and Caltrans have a message for those contemplating non-essential mountain travel during this time: Don’t do it!

Even essential travel will be treacherous at altitudes over 1,500 feet, with risk and difficulty for drivers increasing with altitude. The heaviest snow should fall from this morning through Sunday. Above 3,000 feet, the NWS states a high probability of 1-2 feet of snow, with the possibility of 3-4 feet of snow above the 4,000-foot mark.

Today and Sunday at “great risk” of “dangerous to impossible” travel conditions with chain checks, prolonged delays and likely road closures; a reduction in visibility with occasional whiteout conditions; and fallen trees and branches and local power outages due to heavy snowfall and gusty winds.

Caltrans strongly advises against unnecessary mountain travel anywhere in the Sierra Nevada until this harsh storm system clears the area on Monday, though the threat won’t completely disappear then. When motorists have to travel, officials said drivers should always have food, water and blankets with them in case they get stuck in snow or face extended road closures.

Lower Elevations

People living in the Sierra Nevada foothills and Sacramento Valley have their own weather implications to consider. The foothills could get over 2,000 feet to 4 inches of snow today through Sunday, affecting areas like Paradise, Forest Ranch, Concow, Berry Creek and Cohasset.

At higher elevations of Paradise, a slushy mix of precipitation hit late Saturday morning at the junction of Skyway and Wagstaff Road at the 2,034-foot elevation mark. About three miles up the Skyway, at the intersection with Coutelenc Road at 2310 feet, it was pure snow, falling almost sideways while contact with the pavement grew weak.

In the valley, residents can expect rain, wind and possible thunderstorms today through Sunday, with rain, wind and possible thunderstorms and even snow on Sunday and Monday. Nighttime low temperatures will reach the mid-to-low 30s on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.