Road conditions on Northern California’s major highways OK as Grapevine shuts down in south
Updated at 8 a.m. Thursday
LATEST UPDATE: TRAFFIC CONDITIONS FOR POST-THANKSGIVING WEEKEND
Difficult conditions persisted for motorists on Thanksgiving as snow and rain blanketed much of California. AAA says more than 49 million travelers are on the nation’s highways ahead of the holiday. The Auto Club says this year’s amount will be second only to 2005 for the busiest Thanksgiving holidays since the organization began tracking data in 2000. Roughly 1.6 million more people are expected to travel this year compared to last, a 2.9 percent increase, AAA officials said. Here’s an update on road conditions:
Interstate 80
Donner Pass pass is open. After a Wednesday of difficult conditions on I-80, the roadway is open Thursday morning with chain controls. Officials have cautioned snowy conditions could present problems as the day goes on.
On Wednesday night, traffic was being turned around at Drum Forebay going east and Truckee going west due to multiple spinouts, the CHP said. Before 9 p.m., officials reopened both directions with chain restrictions.
The roadway is clear to the Bay Area, too.
Throughout the day, motorists should keep updated on the latest conditions on Caltrans’ Quickmap website and app.
Highway 50
All lanes are open, but chains are required. On Wednesday evening, both directions of Highway 50 were closed due to jackknifed big rigs. CHP said one of the vehicles was hauling a cattle trailer, which let loose about eight bovine onto the roadway, blocking traffic.
Interstate 5
North to Oregon is open but the Grapevine is closed. Caltrans reopened all lanes of I-5 in Northern California between Yreka and Redding just before 3:30 p.m. Wednesday after a day of clearing the roadway of snow and cars that had been stuck on the northbound side of the roadway since Tuesday.
CHP officials in Southern California on Thursday morning closed I-5 over the Tejon Pass due to heavy snow, as a second powerful storm moved inland. Caltrans officials are urging motorists to use Highway 101 through the coast as an alternate route.
Tahoe highways
Chains are required on Highway 49 from Kyburz to Meyers in El Dorado County.
Chains are required on Highway 89 from Highway 50 to Bliss State Park and on into Tahoe City in El Dorado County, and from Squaw Valley to I-80 in Placer County.
More highway closures
Highway 4, Alpine County: ½-mile east of Highway 207 at Mt. Reba turnoff to Highway 89 and Ebbets Pass.
Highway 16: Is open through Cache Creek after a rock slide blocked both lanes Tuesday night.
Highway 20, Nevada Couty: Is closed to all tractor-trailers from Nevada City to I-80. Chains are required for all other vehicles.
Highway 108: 25 miles east of Strawberry in Tuolumne County to Mono County, including through Yosemite National Park.
Highway 120: From Crane Flat to Tioga Pass in Tuolumne and Mono counties.
Latest doppler radar loop for Northern California
Driving tips
Caltrans advises that motorists get their vehicle ready for winter travel and long delays.
Make sure tires have ample tread. Haven’t changed your windshield wipers since last year? You’re probably due for new ones.
Carry snow chains that actually fit your wheels, officials urged.
Latest visible satellite loop for West Coast
Pack flashlights, blankets, warm clothes, rain and snow gear and food and water.
To help plan your trip in real time, Caltrans says you should download its free Caltrans QuickMap app. The information the app provides on travel conditions, including chain-control locations and road closures – it also can be found at quickmap.dot.ca.gov.
Hourly weather forecasts and storm alerts for specific locations can be found at the National Weather Service forecast center at weather.gov.
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 9:40 PM with the headline "Road conditions on Northern California’s major highways OK as Grapevine shuts down in south."