Photo taken by: Tracey Petersen
Sonora, CA – All but one of the Mountain Passes remain closed today.
All the passes were closed by Sunday evening as snowy weather moved into the region. Yosemite Park Ranger Scott Gediman tells Clarke Broadcasting that Highway 120 Tioga Pass got one to two inches of snowfall, but it melted off quickly. The roadway reopened this morning at 11 a.m. However, Gediman added, “a big storm is predicted for Sunday evening, so that may close it for the season.”
Highway 108 Sonora Pass and Highway 4 Ebbetts Pass, which got between 3 and 4 inches of snow accumulation, are still closed. Caltrans spokesperson Bob Highfill updated via email, “At this time, there is no ETO (estimated time of opening) for those passes. He also noted, “The National Weather Service is predicting a significant storm system arriving later this week and intensifying over the weekend, which may extend the closures into next week or beyond.” Although Highfill stressed, “This is NOT the full-seasonal closure at this time.”
After the storm passes, Highfill details that crews will inspect the passes “to determine when and if they can be reopened this season.” To find out road conditions 24/7 go to the mymotherlode.com homepage and click on traffic.
Written by Tracey Petersen.
Sign up for our Breaking News Alerts and the myMotherLode.com Daily Newsletters by clicking here. Report breaking news, traffic or weather to our News Hotline (209) 532-6397. Send Mother Lode News Story photos to news@clarkebroadcasting.com.
For Caltrans traffic information for Highway’s 4, 49, 59, 108, and 120 plus a view of traffic on other Mother Lode roads and gas prices click on “Traffic” or keyword: traffic For an overview of extreme weather news stories go here.