Winter Storm Blankets California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains with Heavy Snowfall

California‘s Sierra Nevada mountains are experiencing a heavy blanket of snowfall as a winter storm intensifies in the region. The picturesque town of Truckee in the U.S. is now covered in snow, creating a stunning winter landscape.

The National Weather Service has issued alerts for Nevada and California, predicting over a foot of additional snow accumulation by Sunday. The ongoing blizzards have forced the closure of Interstate 80 between Colfax and the Nevada state line, disrupting travel and transportation in the area.

Ski resorts near Lake Tahoe have been shut down, with more than 80 inches of snow reported in popular mountain towns like Soda Springs and Sugar Bowl. Yosemite National Park has also been closed due to the severe weather conditions.

Thousands of residents in northern California have been impacted by power outages, with over 22,000 customers losing electricity according to PowerOutage.us. The challenges posed by the snowstorms have prompted warnings of high avalanche risks in the backcountry mountains of the Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Despite efforts to clear roads, the adverse weather conditions are expected to persist, with more winter storms forecasted for the region on Monday and Tuesday. Residents are advised to stay indoors and exercise caution during this period of intense snowfall and blizzard conditions.

Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Josie Kao. Additional reporting by Susannah Cullinane and Cindy Von Quednow.