Winter storm: Mandatory chain rules dropped for NB traffic on I-5 in advance of wind, snow in Redding, Siskiyou
UPDATE: Saturday, 4:50 p.m.Vehicles and trucks traveling on northbound I-5 are no longer being screened for chains at Fawndale, 10 miles north of Redding.UPDATE: Saturday, 9:50 a.m.All vehicles are now being screened for chains on northbound Interstate 5 at Fawndale, 10 miles north of Redding, before being able to proceed north, said the California Department of Transportation's District 2.Expect screening at various locations on I-5 between Redding and the Oregon border prior to and during the snow and wind storms expected this weekend. For current roadway conditions, please visit QuickMap.dot.ca.gov.
Original story:Redding’s snow days aren’t over yet. The North State will have to brave another weekend of light snow in the valley, heavier snow in the foothills and mountains along Interstate 5.
A winter storm arrives over the North State on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
The good news is this storm is slightly weaker than the one that hit the North State earlier this week, said meteorologist Chelsea Peters with the weather service’s Sacramento branch.
Redding and the surrounding valley could get up to an inch of rain over the weekend, turning into a dusting of snow late Sunday evening and early Monday.
That and strong winds up to 35 mph on Saturday could cause further damage to Redding area buildings and trees that cracked under heavy snow weight during valley winter storms in late February.
Winds drop off on Sunday, Peters said.
Winter storm to drop up to two feet of snow on I-5 corridor
Driving could be hazardous in the mountains and foothills, with whiteout conditions in some places north of Redding, including along the I-5 corridor from Mountain Gate, past Mt. Shasta, the weather service reported.
Weekend snowfall gets deeper north of Redding, along the I-5 corridor, Peters said. Lake Shasta and other foothill communities along the I-5 corridor in northern Shasta County will get three or more inches of snow, starting Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday.
Shasta Dam and I-5 at Mountain Gate ― 12 miles north of Redding ― will get three to six inches of snow on Saturday and Sunday.
I-5 at Pollard Flat, 36 miles north of Redding, will get 15 to 20 inches of snow.
After the two-mile stretch between Pollard Flat and Fisher, snow gets heavier on I-5, Peters said.
Siskiyou County in for more snow, whiteout conditions on some highways
A winter storm warning is in effect in western and southern Siskiyou County from 4 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday, said meteorologist Mike Petrucelli with the weather service’s Medford, Oregon branch.
During those hours, expect 10 to 15 inches of snow to fall on Mount Shasta, 15-20 inches on Dunsmuir, Petrucelli said. Another 12 to 24 inches of snow will fall on highways 89, 96 and 3; and on the towns of Somes Bar, Happy Camp, Callahan, Etna, Fort Jones, Greenview and McCloud.
The weather service advised people not to travel, but if they do, motorists should prepare for winter conditions and chain controls.
On Monday, Redding could get as much as a quarter inch of rain, and another four to six inches of snow will fall on I-5 in northern Shasta County and southern Siskiyou County.
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Winter storm: More wind, snow on way for Interstate 5, Redding, Siskiyou
