SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A winter storm brought rain to the Northern California valley and snow to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range Saturday causing chain controls on most major highways and slick roads across the valley.
According to ABC10 meteorologist Brenden Minchefff, the rain started early Saturday morning and is expected to increase in intensity throughout the afternoon and evening.
Snow levels were expected to start around 4,000 feet, eventually rising to 5,500-6,000 feet.
The Saturday snow caused Caltrans to implement chain controls for cars on most Sierra-region highways.
Chain controls:
Highway 4
- Chains are required for most cars from Mount Reba Summit to Cottage Springs. Cars with all-wheel-drive and snow-tread tires do not need chains.
Highway 50
- Chains are required for most cars from Meyers to Sand Flat. Cars with all-wheel-drive and snow-tread tires do not need chains.
Highway 88
- Chains are required for most cars from Pickett's Junction to Dew Drop. Cars with all-wheel-drive and snow-tread tires do not need chains.
Highway 108
- Chains are required for most cars from Snow Park to Spring Gap Road. Cars with all-wheel-drive and snow-tread tires do not need chains.
Interstate 80
- Chains are required for most cars from the Donner Lake Interchange to Rainbow and Kingvale to the Donner Lake Interchange. Cars with all-wheel-drive and snow-tread tires do not need chains.
TRAFFIC MAP:
Sacramento region traffic map:
Officials in the Sierra are on high alert, warning the public about the threat of avalanches Saturday as more snow is expected to fall days after a deadly avalanche at a ski resort near Lake Tahoe.
"Heavy wet new snow and drifting snow are expected to overload weak layers within the backcountry snowpack today," the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said in a post to Facebook Saturday. "A natural avalanche cycle is expected to occur in the backcountry starting sometime today and lasting into tomorrow morning."
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect and continues until early Sunday morning. An Avalanche Warning is in effect for the Sierra.
STORM RESOURCES:
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Watch more from ABC10: California Weather: Incoming storm prompts high avalanche danger in the Sierra
