The price for enjoying a President’s Day ski weekend in Lake Tahoe could be the ride home – it’s likely to be a long, arduous journey.
Due to avalanche control, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced earlier today that it was holding all traffic on Highway 50 between Twin Bridges to Myers. There was no time given for reopening the main corridor in and out of South Lake Tahoe.
The delay is certainly impacting departures for skiers and riders who were at Heavenly Mountain or Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resorts today.
“It’s snowing like crazy right now, and holiday traffic is extremely heavy,” Deanna Shoopman, a spokeswoman with Caltrans’ District 3, told the Sacramento Bee just before noon Monday.
It’s been snowing steadily since Sunday and the National Weather Service anticipates snowfall to continue in the Lake Tahoe region throughout Monday. The weather is further complicated by high winds in the mountains that’s supposed to continue late this afternoon and into the evening. The NWS is predicting heavy snow in higher elevations.
Interstate 80: On Monday morning, Caltrans began turning around all big rigs on westbound I-80 at the California-Nevada state line. The reason given was multiple crashes and heavy holiday traffic.
Shoopman said truck drivers traveling on I-80 as far east as Elko, Nev., are receiving posted warnings of the situation at the state line. She also stated that big rig drivers who have not stopped east of the state line are being turned back to Reno. The current situation will remain in place “until the holiday traffic gets sorted out.”
Highway 88: Also this morning, Caltrans reported that Highway 88 at the Carson Pass was closed for avalanche control. Kirkwood Mountain ski resort is located along Highway 88. Caltrans has no estimated time for reopening, although a Kirkwood said the Carson Pass would reopen by 3 p.m. on Monday.
Blizzard conditions and strong winds shut down Mt. Rose ski resort today. Mt. Rose is located in Nevada on Mt. Rose Highway.
