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NEW DELHI: California‘s most powerful storm of the season bore down on the Sierra Nevada region, prompting the closure of nine Lake Tahoe ski resorts and the urgent evacuation of visitors from Yosemite National Park.
The storm, which began on Thursday, is expected to bring up to 10 feet (3 meters) of snow in some areas, leading to the closure of major highways and potential power outages.A blizzard warning through Sunday morning covers a 300-mile (482-kilometer) stretch of the mountains.
Residents in the affected areas have been advised to take shelter and prepare for the heavy snowfall.
Rick Grundy, manager of the Chevron Food Mart near Donner Lake, has observed a slowdown in business as people heed the officials’ advice to stay indoors.
“We’re pretty well stocked. We knew this was coming,” Grundy said.
“One thing I’ve learned, if you are not used to driving in this weather, if you’re not used to being in this area, it’s not a good idea. You should stay home.”
Meteorologists predict that Lake Tahoe and its surrounding mountains could receive up to 10 feet (3 meters) of snow by the weekend.
The communities on the lake’s shores can expect 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) of snow, while the valleys on the Sierra’s eastern front, including Reno, may see over a foot (30 centimeters) of snow. Strong winds with gusts exceeding 115 mph (185 kph) are also expected in the region, leading to backcountry avalanche warnings.
Yosemite National Park has closed its doors until at least noon on Sunday, with all visitors required to leave by Friday noon. The park could see over 7 feet (2.13 meters) of snowfall.
Nine Lake Tahoe ski resorts have chosen to remain closed due to the severe weather conditions, while a few others have opened with warnings of limitations and delays.
However, despite the disruptions caused by the storm, some businesses remain open in South Lake Tahoe.
Salvador Ortega, general manager of Heidi’s Pancake House reiterated their commitment to staying open throughout the year, unless faced with power outages or other emergencies.
“We are one of the restaurants in South Lake Tahoe that don’t close unless we don’t have power or something breaks down. We’re open 365,” general manager Salvador Ortega said. “Tahoe is a small community. It’s rare when an employee doesn’t make it to work.”
The storm has also prompted the California Highway Patrol to impose travel restrictions on a stretch of Interstate 80 between Reno and Sacramento.
Drivers are required to have chains on their tires for added safety. On a positive note, the storm is expected to significantly increase the Sierra snowpack, which is crucial for California’s water supplies.
As of Thursday, the snowpack stood at 80% of the average.
Lacey De Guzman, the office manager at the Bar of America in Truckee said the roads were fine Friday when she made the 30-mile (48.28-kilometer) trip early morning to work from Reno. But the restaurant bar on the main drag of the historic railroad town, just down the road from Palisades-Alpine ski resort, has had very few customers so far, she said.
“We’re expecting it to be pretty slow throughout the whole weekend given that everyone is being told to stay off the roads and just stay home,” she said.
( with input from agency)
The storm, which began on Thursday, is expected to bring up to 10 feet (3 meters) of snow in some areas, leading to the closure of major highways and potential power outages.A blizzard warning through Sunday morning covers a 300-mile (482-kilometer) stretch of the mountains.
Residents in the affected areas have been advised to take shelter and prepare for the heavy snowfall.
Rick Grundy, manager of the Chevron Food Mart near Donner Lake, has observed a slowdown in business as people heed the officials’ advice to stay indoors.
“We’re pretty well stocked. We knew this was coming,” Grundy said.
“One thing I’ve learned, if you are not used to driving in this weather, if you’re not used to being in this area, it’s not a good idea. You should stay home.”
Meteorologists predict that Lake Tahoe and its surrounding mountains could receive up to 10 feet (3 meters) of snow by the weekend.
The communities on the lake’s shores can expect 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) of snow, while the valleys on the Sierra’s eastern front, including Reno, may see over a foot (30 centimeters) of snow. Strong winds with gusts exceeding 115 mph (185 kph) are also expected in the region, leading to backcountry avalanche warnings.
Yosemite National Park has closed its doors until at least noon on Sunday, with all visitors required to leave by Friday noon. The park could see over 7 feet (2.13 meters) of snowfall.
Nine Lake Tahoe ski resorts have chosen to remain closed due to the severe weather conditions, while a few others have opened with warnings of limitations and delays.
However, despite the disruptions caused by the storm, some businesses remain open in South Lake Tahoe.
Salvador Ortega, general manager of Heidi’s Pancake House reiterated their commitment to staying open throughout the year, unless faced with power outages or other emergencies.
“We are one of the restaurants in South Lake Tahoe that don’t close unless we don’t have power or something breaks down. We’re open 365,” general manager Salvador Ortega said. “Tahoe is a small community. It’s rare when an employee doesn’t make it to work.”
The storm has also prompted the California Highway Patrol to impose travel restrictions on a stretch of Interstate 80 between Reno and Sacramento.
Drivers are required to have chains on their tires for added safety. On a positive note, the storm is expected to significantly increase the Sierra snowpack, which is crucial for California’s water supplies.
As of Thursday, the snowpack stood at 80% of the average.
Lacey De Guzman, the office manager at the Bar of America in Truckee said the roads were fine Friday when she made the 30-mile (48.28-kilometer) trip early morning to work from Reno. But the restaurant bar on the main drag of the historic railroad town, just down the road from Palisades-Alpine ski resort, has had very few customers so far, she said.
“We’re expecting it to be pretty slow throughout the whole weekend given that everyone is being told to stay off the roads and just stay home,” she said.
( with input from agency)
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