PLACER COUNTY, Calif. — Chain controls were on and off throughout Saturday along I-80, but for many travelers, that didn’t matter. After an atmospheric-river-fueled storm dumped snow in the Sierra, people headed east all day, bringing extra traffic to the interstate and the businesses along it.
"It's snowing, and there's a lot of snow," said Lodi kid Abigail Reyes. "I got some snow on my head."
While snow is on Abigail's head, inside her car, a doughnut is waiting for her-- just one of the many items Jeremiah Delaossa has been ringing up at his Nyack gas station and market all morning.
"We’ve got a little bit of things to eat, you know," said Delaossa. "Hot coffee, cocoa, gasoline."
The snow chains were stocked up too of course, because when the snow picks up, so does business.
"Yeah, it’s the beginning of the season right now," said Delaossa. "(Customers) are starting to go up to the ski resorts. I heard some guys say they were going to Northstar, and I heard some say Palisades. It seems like most of them are starting to open. We do see some of the workers that work up here at Boreal."
While some are headed east to ski or snowboard near Lake Tahoe, 2-year-old Alex and his family from San Jose are passing up the resorts, headed to Reno.
Along the way, Alex saw snow for the first time.
"He’s all ready with his little umbrella, shark umbrella," said Alex's mom, Mina Nguyen. "We’re getting gas, getting snacks, gearing up to go through the mountains."
It was a slick and then snowy Saturday drive, but well worth it for many and made more bearable with the help of local businesses.
"It’s getting cold fast and, you know, if you get stuck, you want to have a few things to keep you going until they’re able to get the roads open," said Delaossa.
Watch more from ABC10: Storm Forecast: Weekend and Thanksgiving week weather forecast | California Atmospheric River Latest
