Winter Weather Advisory: Sierra Nevada and SoCal Mountains See Heavy Snow, Chains Required
A string of storms left mountain roads slick and drivers warned to prepare — a situation that fits the term winter weather advisory as travel troubles spread across the Sierra Nevada and Southern California ranges. The California Highway Patrol is urging motorists to be ready for icy roads and chain requirements after heavy snowfall in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Winter Weather Advisory and what it looks like on the roads
Back-to-back-to-back storms dropped up to three feet of snow in spots in the San Bernardino Mountains, leaving many access roads icy and treacherous. All mountain roads are under a level 2 chain requirement: chains or alternate traction devices are required for all cars except vehicles with four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive with four snow-tread tires, though those vehicles must still carry chains in case conditions worsen.
Road rules, speed guidance and immediate travel impacts
The CHP has been turning drivers away at checkpoints when they attempted to head up without chains, and officers are urging people to drive slowly — 25 mph is the recommended maximum on icy sections. Clearing skies after the storm are expected to lead to colder overnight lows and possible black ice, increasing the risk on secondary roads and higher-elevation routes.
How travelers and residents have been affected
Some motorists who tried to climb into the mountains were forced to learn chains on the spot; Andrew Malingowski of Culver City said, "I just don't really know how to put them on. I only come up every couple years so I never bothered to learn. " Officials also advised anyone who does head up to carry extra water, food and blankets, and to be prepared for colder overnight temperatures that can make road surfaces more hazardous.
Travel troubles have not been limited to Southern California: video and field reports from across the Sierra Nevada show similar disruptions on mountain highways and local roads, with communities and travelers contending with lingering snow and icy conditions.
What comes next: the immediate outlook calls for clearing skies and colder nights, and the California Highway Patrol continues to press the public to carry chains and be prepared for black ice and icy roads. Drivers planning mountain trips should expect continued restrictions and prepare for on-the-spot inspections at highway checkpoints.
