California battles blizzard, braces for more snow

More snow is coming towards northern California this week, following a hefty blizzard that dropped several inches of snow in parts of the Sierra Nevada mountains over the past four days.

Donner Pass received about 60 inches of snow, while Homewood Mountain Resort reported 87 inches. Nevada, Utah and Colorado also experienced severe weather.

What happened?
The blizzard started on Thursday and tapered off by Sunday. It had wind gusts hitting 190 mph, surpassing Category 5 hurricane levels.

It led to the closure of the I-80 highway—where over 300 vehicles were stranded—and ski resorts shut down.

Around 280,000 customers faced power outages, with around 7,800 homes and businesses without power as of Sunday.

Authorities are urging residents to stay home and prioritize their safety. Travelers in mountainous regions are advised to use tire chains. Life-threatening conditions persist, especially near Lake Tahoe, where the storm has lingered for three days.

Next in line
The blizzard will be followed by rain and heavy snow to the Sierra Nevada and then into the Rockies on Tuesday, per the NWS.