A man walks his dog down Sierra City’s Main Street during a lull in Wednesday’s storm

SIERRA COUNTY — A significant winter storm was experienced on Saturday, January 6th, which brought inches of snow to the entire county, including at low elevations. Downieville ended the day with about 1.75” of snow, while heavier snowfall was experienced in Sierra City and over the Yuba Pass.

On Wednesday, January 10th, another storm system hit the county. Downieville saw only light snow in the morning, quickly becoming rain. Elevations above Downieville, however, received nearly a full day of snow.

Butte Street in Sierra City being plowedSierra City had roughly 4 inches of snow by 1 p.m. on Wednesday, continuing to fall into the night. Snow on the roads turned to slush in the afternoon, but temperatures quickly dropped below freezing again. Chains continue to be required from Sierra City to Sattley as we go to print on Thursday morning.

Gold Lake Highway remains closed with significant snowpackBassetts had nearly a foot of snowpack, with about 4” of new snow at 1 p.m. Gold Lake Highway remains closed for the season. On Wednesday, roads at Bassetts and above had up to two inches of snow in some places between plows, and ice can be expected into Thursday morning.

Blizzard conditions at Yuba PassYuba Pass had blizzard conditions throughout the day, with extreme wind speeds and treacherous roads. Visibility was poor, particularly in the afternoon, due to wind-blown snow. Snowpack measured up to 18” at the Sno Park.

Snow falls, but little sticks, at Los Dos Hermanos in SierravilleThe Sierra Valley also saw blizzard-like conditions during the day, but temperatures were not low enough for snow to stick well to the ground. Sierraville had a few inches, and Loyalton less. Still, chain controls were implemented from Sierraville to the Sierra/Plumas County Line as temperatures dropped into Wednesday night.

More rain and snow is expected on Friday night into Saturday.