TRUCKEE – The blizzard that has brought life to a standstill in the Northern Sierra is starting to wane, but another storm may be right behind it.

The region has been experiencing relentless blizzard conditions since Thursday, resulting in the closure of a long stretch of Interstate 80 and residents being asked to take shelter as heavy snow and strong wind gusts threatened their safety. Snow has been falling at the rate of 3-inches every hour with winds howling at more than 100 miles an hour. The National Weather Service warned of ‘white out’ conditions and said it was the biggest snowstorm of the season.

Hundreds of miles of mountain highways remained shut down with s now totals that could reach 12 feet.

The National Weather Service's called the storm an “extreme” blizzard for the Sierra Nevada, in particular, as well as other portions of Nevada and even extending into Utah and western Colorado.

Story Date: March 6, 2024