Reno, Nev. (AP) – California officials on Friday closed 100 miles of interstate 80, as the biggest icy storm of the season bored Sierra Nevada, where residents were urged to take shelter and stay away from roads as they were ready for 10 feet snow and damaged winds.
“Aaannndd we’re closed !!” California highway petrol posted on X, earlier known as Twitter, stating that the closure was “spin out, due to high winds and low visibility. There is no estimated time to reopen the freeway.”
Authorities closed the interstate in both directions after 5 pm in a day when most parts of more than a dozen ski resorts were closed around the lake taho, a tornado touched in the middle California and asked to leave the visitors of the Yosemite National Park. The closure of 100 miles (160 km) is on the state border on the state border west of Nevada, near the Emigent Gap of California.
California highway petrol, state transport authorities and other officials said the whole day that Troopers and other I-80 were responding to dozens of conflicts, cars were slipping in Snow banks or stuck on the side of Slick roadways. There was no immediate report of any serious injuries.
Meteorologist Andy Bolenbaiker along with National Weather Service Hanford said that a tornado touched on Friday afternoon in Mera County before 4 pm. This caused some damage to a primary school, he said.
The National Meteorological Service in Reno said late Friday that it hoped that the heaviest snow will come after midnight, the icy storm continues with a situation of the storm and blowing ice through Saturday can reduce the visibility of a quarter miles or less.
The storm began on Thursday, it was expected to close major highways with the biggest impacts and to trigger an electric outage on Saturday afternoon on Friday afternoon. An iconic storm warning through Sunday morning includes a stretch of 300 miles (482 km) of the mountains.
Rick Gundundi, manager of Chevron Food Mart near Donor Lake, away from Interstate 80, said that the business was slow on Friday – people feel that the advice of the authorities had taken Hankar. Trucci, California, after staying in the region for 20 years, he said that he knows how to prepare for bad weather.
“We are stocking very well. We knew that it was coming, “Gundundi said. “One thing I have learned, if you do not have a habit of driving in this season, if you are not habit of being in this field, it is not a good idea. You should stay at home. ,
Meteorologists have predicted 10 feet (3 meters) snow in the mountains around Taho Lake by weekend, more than a leg (30 centimeters) in the valleys on the eastern front of 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 m) in communities on the banks of the lake and a leg (30 cm) in the valleys on the eastern front of Sierra.
The Sierra Redgates are expected to over 115 mph (185 kmph) winds and more than 70 mph (113 km per hour) at low altitude.
A avalanche was warned in various areas. All visitors to Yosemite were scheduled to be out on Friday, the park closed at least through Sunday. In some areas, more than 7 feet (2.13 m) snow may fall.
Many lakes Taho Ski Resorts said they were staying closed on Friday due to conditions.
But there was not all bad news for snow resorts. The Palisads Taho Ski Resort said that in February 8 feet (2.4 m), the expected Big Dump over the weekend of ice should allow them to keep the slope open through the Memorial Day.
In South Lake Taho, a rush of lunch at the Pancake House of Heidi was a third -third of the typical 60 dinner. Even with deteriorating forecast, General Manager Salvador Ortga was expected to be open and most of his employees to show.
“We are one of the restaurants of South Lake Taho which are not closed until we have power or anything. We are 365 open, ”he said. “Taho is a small community. This is rare when an employee does not make it to work. ,
Ortga said that he believes that the snowfall would eventually be good for the community and will increase tourism after being safe to travel again.
Andrew Schwartz, the lead scientist at UC-Barkle Central Sierra Snow Lab, said it is possible that they may break their modern day records of about 3.5 feet (1 meter) ice in a single day in 1989.
On the bright side, California’s water officials said the storm should give a very important boost to the Sierra Snopack, which is important for the state’s water supply. This was an average of 80% average on Thursday, the California Water Resources Officers said.
Todd Commings decided to drive from Santa Cruise to the Taho region beyond the storm. His destination, Northstar Resort, was open, but was away from the slope pack.
“Nobody is here,” he said in a brief phone interview during his first chairal ride of the day. “They have limited trails open, but this lift goes to the top.”
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