Treacherous travel conditions are worsening in the west as Nevada and California prepare for a weekend onslaught of snow and rain.
One Truck Already Stuck
Nevada Highway Patrol announced the plight of one big righ stuck on the Mt. Rose Highway at mile marker 5 around 2 p.m. Friday.
The unpredictable weather pattern has brought needed rain and mountain snow to California this week, but will persist into the start of the weekend, making travel potentially dangerous.
MT ROSE: Big Rig stuck on Mt Rose Highway at Mile Marker 5 (On the lake side of Mt Rose) @nevadadot pic.twitter.com/3duupYQNLM
— NHP Northern Command (@NHPNorthern) March 16, 2018
More Rough Weather for the Weekend
The most widespread impact will be slower travel on the roadways through at least Saturday, particularly on Interstates 5 and 80, and in the major hubs of San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Thunder, lightning and small hail may even accompany the rainfall, especially in the northern half of the state. Much of the storm’s precipitation will be unleashed in the form of snow across the Sierra Nevada in central California and Nevada.
Motorists traveling over I-80’s Donner Pass should expect additional travel headaches into Friday night, with chain restrictions likely and closures possible.
Rain and mountain snow will continue across parts of California into the first half of the weekend: https://t.co/gaS0bACIJ8 pic.twitter.com/43ZHYU7fLB
— AccuWeather (@breakingweather) March 16, 2018
This photo was just taken at 11:00 am from our baseball fields at the El Chorro County Park in SLO 😳🌪 (Don’t worry it cleared) There is more weather on the way, fields are closed, expect trail closures & stay tuned for event cancellations 🌧 #sloparksandrec pic.twitter.com/fgiSJ5zDJO
— SLO Parks and Rec (@SLOParksandRec) March 14, 2018
@weatherchannel @FOX40 @Land_Line_Mag #truckers Skies finally cleared this side of Sacramento Pilot Travel…At this time 1-80 over the pass to Reno is Closed at Colfax report of blinding snow & road closed from there pic.twitter.com/bePUlC14fG
— Arthur Smith (@Detcookieman74) March 16, 2018
South and Central US Not Exempt
According to AccuWeather, a second storm in three days will push east of the Rockies, and severe storms may erupt over parts of the south-central United States on Sunday.
Areas from the lower Mississippi Valley to parts of the southern Plains may experience potentially damaging storms on Sunday.
Over the lower Mississippi Valley, from northeastern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma to northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas and middle Mississippi, storms have the potential to bring damaging winds, large hail and localized flash flooding.
Areas from central Oklahoma to west-central Kansas may experience a few storms with large hail.
While a tornado outbreak is not anticipated with the storms on Sunday, the storms over the lower Mississippi Valley will carry the potential for a few isolated tornadoes.