Sierra storm warning

A late-season Pacific storm dropped heavy snow and damaging wind into the Sierra Nevada this week, with winter storm warnings covering passes, Tahoe high country, and Yosemite’s higher elevations. (weather.gov) The National Weather Service in Sacramento said areas above 5,000 feet in the northern Sierra could pick up another 6 to 12 inches of snow, with up to 18 inches on the highest peaks, and snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour at times. The warning covered Interstate 80, Highway 50, Donner Peak, Carson Pass, and other mountain corridors through 5 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. (weather.gov) A separate National Weather Service warning for Yosemite National Park outside the valley said totals of 3 to 5 inches were expected above 7,000 feet, with 12 to 18 inches possible along the highest Sierra crest and wind gusts up to 75 miles per hour. The agency said travel could be “very difficult to impossible” in those areas through the same Wednesday deadline. (weather.gov) Around Lake Tahoe and Mono County, the Reno office posted winter weather advisories rather than full warnings, but the forecast still called for 4 to 10 inches above 6,500 feet near Tahoe, 6 to 12 inches above 7,000 feet in Mono County, and ridge gusts up to 90 miles per hour. The heaviest snowfall was expected Tuesday, April 21, into Wednesday, April 22. (weather.gov) This storm arrived in late April, when many drivers and hikers have already shifted into spring travel patterns. Yosemite National Park said Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road were still closed for the season because of snow, and Hetch Hetchy Road can close when snow is forecast overnight. (nps.gov) The Sierra was also coming off a dry winter in key Yosemite watersheds. Yosemite said snowpack in the Tuolumne River basin was 22% of average and the Merced River basin was 27% of average as of April 1, so even a sharp storm did not erase the broader below-normal snow season. (nps.gov) Forecasters said the setup was a Pacific system pushing in rain, mountain snow, and strong south to southwest winds before colder air lowered snow levels. The Reno forecast discussion said snow levels started above 7,000 feet, then fell to roughly 5,500 to 6,000 feet by Tuesday evening, expanding the risk of slick travel over Sierra routes. (weather.gov) Caltrans directed drivers to QuickMap for chain controls, closures, cameras, and incident reports, and said restrictions can be imposed whenever conditions deteriorate in mountain corridors. The National Weather Service warnings also told travelers to check road conditions before heading into the range. (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) (dot.ca.gov) By Thursday, April 23, the Sacramento forecast office said the region was shifting out of the storm and into lighter shower and thunderstorm chances later in the week. The immediate Sierra threat had passed, but the storm left behind the kind of April mountain weather that can still shut roads and strand travelers above the snow line. (weather.gov)