More rounds of wet weather are expected to cause snow-related travel delays in the Sierra through Monday.
Sunday is an Impact Day for the region, as the weather could affect travel and outdoor activities.
Sunday:
8:15 p.m.: I-80 traffic is being held in both directions due to multiple spinouts and Highway 89 around Emerald Bay is closed due to unstable snow. No ETO.
7:45 p.m.: Sierra major freeway updates:
6:11 p.m.: Traffic is being held on Highway 50 in Meyers due to multiple spinouts, Caltrans said.
6:00 p.m.: I-80 remains closed from 2.1 miles east of Baxter to the Nevada State Line due to multiple spinouts. Additionally, the interstate is closed to tractor-semitrailer combinations eastbound at Applegate.
Highway 88 remains closed to eastbound traffic 3 miles west of Silver Lake in Amador County due to multiple spinouts and at Dew Drop and Kirkwood due to crashes.
2:34 p.m.: Eastbound Highway 88 is closed at Dew Drop, Caltrans said.
The agency said "multiple vehicle incidents" have taken place on the roadway Sunday due to the heavy snowfall, and motorists should avoid travel through this route.
2:23 p.m.: Sac Metro Fire said the victim in the Sloughhouse water rescue has been removed from the water and no medical aid was needed.
Sac Metro Fire said the vehicle would remain in the floodwater until the water level subsides. There are road closures on either side of the area.
2:07 p.m.: A water rescue is underway in Sloughhouse, with one vehicle stuck in water, according to the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.
Just before 2 p.m., officials said crews made contact with the person stuck and are in the process of getting them out of the water.
The agency urged drivers not to cross roads that are blocked with signage to avoid getting caught in floodwater.
1:33 p.m.: Highway 50 is back open from Echo Summit to Meyers in El Dorado County.
1:29 p.m.: Traffic is being held on westbound I-80 at Truckee due to multiple spinouts, Caltrans said.
12:48 p.m.: Deer Creek Crossing and upstream are at flood stage at Scott Road. Data from Sacramento County shows the level at the crossing is 162.91 feet, where the flood stage is 161.87 feet. Upstream, the creek was recorded at 163.33 feet Sunday, where 162.6 feet is flood stage.
12:37 p.m.: The California Highway Patrol said Highway 267 is back open over Brockway Summit.
12:18 p.m.: Caltrans said both eastbound and westbound traffic has been released on I-80.
12:15 p.m.: A KCRA 3 crew along I-80 said the eastbound lanes are closed at Drum Forebay Road.
11:58 a.m.: Traffic is being held on westbound I-80 at Truckee due to multiple spinouts, Caltrans said.
11:30 a.m.: Traffic is being held on Highway 50 from Echo Summit to Meyers in El Dorado County due to multiple spinouts.
Additionally, the California Highway Patrol said that traffic is being held on Highway 267 over Brockway Summit due to multiple spinouts.
The agency shared a video showing thick snow over the roadway and several vehicles stuck and sliding.
11:25 a.m.: The Sacramento County Department of Transportation said the following roadways were closed due to flooding:
The department also urged the public to call 311 to report any flooded roadways. Drivers are urged not to drive through high water.
11:15 a.m.: The Sacramento County Department of Water Resources said Arcade Creek reached monitor stage at 74.81 feet. The creek would need to reach 76.34 feet to rise to flood stage.
11:00 a.m.: Palisades Tahoe said Sunday it received 14 inches of snow within 24 hours, and beyond that, an accumulation of 22 inches within 72 hours.
The ski resort expects between 24 to 30 inches of more snow accumulation through Monday morning.
10 a.m.: Highway 88 at Carson Spur is closed for avalanche control, Caltrans says.
9:20 a.m.: Highway 88 is closed to eastbound traffic around 3 miles west of Silver Lake because of multiple spinouts, Caltrans says.
Here's a chain controls update.
9:16 a.m. Tamara Berg measures more than 6 inches of snowfall off I-80 near Yuba Gap.
.@KCRAtberg has a look at snowy conditions in the Sierra on Sunday and breaks out the ruler. Full Northern California forecast: https://t.co/hfxrJxOtSU pic.twitter.com/XCgvk7P1kz
— kcranews (@kcranews) January 4, 2026
8:47 a.m.: A deadly crash has blocked lanes on I-80 in Solano County. Learn more here.
7:52 a.m.: Highway 88 chain controls are now from from Cooks Station to 1 mile west of Woodfords.
7 a.m.: Chain controls remain on Interstate 80, Highway 50 and Highway 88.
Meteorologist Kelly Curran says to expect very difficult Sierra travel conditions today.
"If you can, wait until Tuesday to enjoy the snow," she said.
Saturday:
9:15 p.m.: KCRA 3 spoke with drivers in Soda Springs at a gas station off I-80. They reported slick conditions on the roads as the snow fell Saturday evening.
“We saw a lot of, like, especially small cars that have been sliding,” Evy Landaverry said.
"Everyone's chaining up and it was just like kind of a mess,” Chris Lovos said.
6:45 p.m.: The city of Roseville announced its ice rink would be closed on Sunday due to the anticipated weather conditions. Jan. 4 was set to be the rink's final day, so Saturday marked the last opportunity for ice skating this season.
5:00 p.m.: Meteorologist Ophelia Young shared rainfall accumulation numbers from across Northern California:
4:40 p.m.: Traffic is being held on eastbound I-80 at Kingvale due to multiple spinouts.
Caltrans cameras show slick, snow-covered roadways in the area.
Drivers are urged to use caution.
3:20 p.m.: Meteorologist Heather Waldman noted that radar showed rotation nearing the Pollock Pines area, and a funnel cloud may form.
2:00 p.m.: Hundreds of customers across the region are without power.
According to the PG&E outage map, around 60 people were without power in Stockton after a tree made contact with a power line. The power is expected to be restored in that area by 5:15 p.m.
In Nevada County, hundreds of PG&E customers have been without power since just before 1:30 p.m., the outage map shows. As of 2 p.m., around 788 customers were without power in the county. Crews are evaluating any potential damage in the area, and the cause of the outage has not yet been released. Estimated power restoration ranges from 6:30 to 6:45 p.m.
1:50 p.m.: Thunder and lightning move into El Dorado County, and the potential for severe thunderstorms remains through sunset.
1:00 p.m.: Meteorologist Heather Waldman noted that lightning is beginning to pop up in portions of Placer, Nevada and Sacramento counties this afternoon.
12:45 p.m.: Chain controls are back in place on I-80 over Donner Summit.
The California Highway Patrol said chains are required on westbound I-80 from the Donner Lake Interchange to Rainbow. On the eastbound side, chains are required from Kingvale to Truckee.
Noon: Meteorologist Kelly Curran noted a cell was moving through the Davis area along I-80, bringing heavy rain and reduced visibility.
Curran said the heaviest rain could impact the region between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Saturday, with greater impacts in the Foothills.
11:45 a.m.: Chain controls are in effect for a stretch of Highway 50 in the Sierra. Chains are required on all vehicles except those with 4-wheel-drive and snow tires from Twin Bridges to Meyers.
One-way traffic control remains in effect at Ice House Road, Caltrans said.
10:30 a.m.: Chain controls have been dropped on I-80 for now.
9:44 a.m.: Caltrans says there is westbound one-way traffic control between White Hall Bluffs Road and Ice House Road on Highway 50 in El Dorado County because of a rock slide. Drivers should expect delays as cleanup is underway.
9:35 a.m.: Here's another update on Sierra roadways.
9:30 a.m.: Here are impacts to expect today.
— Kelly Curran ?????? (@KCRAKelly) January 3, 2026
7:14 a.m.: The Midtown Farmers Market, a Saturday mainstay in Sacramento, announced it would cancel the market this Saturday due to the anticipated weather forecast.
Organizers said the anticipated wind conditions "meet and exceed our established safety threshold." The market noted that the decision was made in the interest of the vendor, staff and public's safety.
The Jan. 3 event was set to launch a new "circular retail" expansion, aiming to uplift sustainability efforts and upcycling practices.
6 a.m. : Sierra chain controls are in effect for portions of Interstate 80 and Highway 50.
Chain controls means that cars without four-wheel drive and snow tires equipped will need chains installed on their tires.
The speed limit on Sierra highways is also reduced during chain controls, with Interstate 80 set at 30 mph and Highway 50 at 25 mph.
Friday:
10 p.m.: With the rain coming through, typical flood-prone areas will see more water, and while creeks and streams are expected to fill, they should not flood. The primary concern is street flooding, which is often caused by blocked drains.
"What happens is we get these winds that come in and start to knock down the leaves off the trees," Matt Robinson, a Sacramento County public information manager, said. "From time to time, people may toss trash onto the street. Those things compile and end up blocking our drainage system, causing street flooding. This is what we want to avoid."
To mitigate the risk, the county is urging residents in unincorporated areas to clean the drains and culverts near their properties. Additionally, officials advise against driving through flooded waters.
9 p.m.: Dirk Verdoorn times out the forecast:
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