Mountain roads shut as another winter storm hits California

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — Mountain roads were closed again in Northern California as yet another cold storm moved through the state on Sunday, dumping snow in the Sierra Nevada and rain in valleys.

Interstate 80 and several other routes were shut down in the Lake Tahoe area near the Nevada border, where the California Highway Patrol said driving conditions were treacherous amid blizzard conditions.

“Travel is highly discouraged!” the highway patrol office in Truckee said on Twitter.

At least three ski mountains in the Tahoe area — Heavenly, Homewood and Sugar Bowl — were closed Sunday out of caution and for the safety of guests and employees, resort officials said.

A winter storm warning was in effect for mountain areas through early Monday but snow showers were possible throughout the week, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

More than 30 inches (77 cm) of new snow fell within 24 hours, the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab said Sunday morning on Twitter, forecasting up to 4 feet (122 centimeters) through Monday and more during the week. An avalanche warning was issued for the central Sierra until 7 a.m. Monday.

The system is the latest in a series of winter storms to batter California — the most recent of which slammed the state with as much as 10 feet (3 meters) of snow last week.

Search crews have rescued several people stranded in mountain communities, and some Southern California residents could remain trapped in their homes for several more days after the snowfall proved too much to handle for most plows.

In the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles, authorities continued work to clear roads and distribute food, water and blankets while the Red Cross set up a shelter at a high school.

There was a slight chance of rain or snow showers in Southern California on Sunday, the weather service office in San Diego said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared states of emergency in 13 counties.