Lake Tahoe Road Conditions

Latest CalTrans/Nevada Road Reports

Condition of major highways passing through the Lake Tahoe area as of Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 01:03 .

Nevada Highway 28 (North Tahoe lake edge road) See map below

IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA
MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION FROM WATT AVE
/IN SACRAMENTO/ TO SUNRISE BLVD /IN RANCHO CORDOVA/ (SACRAMENTO CO) FROM
2100 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0500 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 8/31/13
- DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION FROM 1 MI WEST
OF PLACERVILLE /AT MISSOURI FLAT RD/ TO PLACERVILLE (EL DORADO CO) FROM
2000 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0600 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 8/31/12
- DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

Interstate 80 (Sacramento - Truckee - Reno) See map below

IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA - SOLANO CO
WILL BE CLOSED TO WESTBOUND TRAFFIC AT THE SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE
/IN SAN FRANCISCO/ (SAN FRANCISCO,ALAMEDA CO) 24 HRS A DAY FROM 2000 HRS ON
2/17/12 TO 0500 HRS ON 2/21/12 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED
TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & THE SIERRA NEVADA
MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION FROM THE
YOLO/SACRAMENTO CO LINE TO LONGVIEW RD /IN SACRAMENTO/ (SACRAMENTO CO) FROM
2200 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0600 HRS EACH MORNING MONDAY THRU THURSDAY & FROM
2300 HRS THURSDAY TO 0800 HRS FRIDAY THRU 8/31/13 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION FROM
ATLANTIC ST /IN ROSEVILLE/ TO ROCKLIN RD /IN ROCKLIN/ (PLACER CO) FROM
2200 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0800 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 8/31/13
- DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION FROM THE
JCT OF SR 193 TO GOLD RUN (PLACER CO) FROM 0800 HRS TO 1530 HRS MONDAY THRU
FRIDAY THRU 2/10/12 - DUE TO MAINTENANCE

California Highway 89 (Truckee and West Tahoe lake edge road) See map below

IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA
IS CLOSED FROM THE JCT OF US 395 (MONO CO) TO THE JCT OF SR 4 /MONITOR PASS/
(ALPINE CO) - FOR THE WINTER - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA
IS CLOSED FROM THE LASSEN VOLCANIC NAT'L PARK SOUTH BDRY TO THE
JCT OF SR 44 /LASSEN LOOP/ (TEHAMA, SHASTA CO) - FOR THE WINTER - MOTORISTS
ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

U.S. Highway 395 (Reno to L.A. East of Tahoe) See map below

IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA
MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION FROM WATT AVE
/IN SACRAMENTO/ TO SUNRISE BLVD /IN RANCHO CORDOVA/ (SACRAMENTO CO) FROM
2100 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0500 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 8/31/13
- DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO LANE REDUCTIONS IN EACH DIRECTION FROM 1 MI WEST
OF PLACERVILLE /AT MISSOURI FLAT RD/ TO PLACERVILLE (EL DORADO CO) FROM
2000 HRS EACH NIGHT TO 0600 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 8/31/12
- DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

Lake Tahoe Road Condition News

Tahoe City Weather Forecast, CA (96145)

Sierra highway passes close for the winter

02/01/2012 LAKE TAHOE — Ebbetts, Monitor and Sonora passes closed for the winter this week, the latest they've closed in the last seven years. “The weather conditions on the passes and road conditions are the determining factors for the closure,â€� said Caltrans Maintenance Superintendent Jon Bevan. 
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Controlled burns may bring smoky conditions in Lake Tahoe

01/28/2012 Beginning Monday and throughout the week, Lake Tahoe residents and visitors can expect to see smoke 
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Skiers, snowboarders riding Tahoe backcountry despite variable conditions

02/04/2012 Zach Holmes jumps a rock near Maggie's Peak last Sunday. Conditions in the backcountry are good enough to ski, but the shallow snowpack is posing some dangers. 
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Prescribed fires continue Monday at various spots around Tahoe

02/04/2012 LAKE TAHOE — U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will continue prescribed fire operations in various locations around the Lake Tahoe Basin on Monday, according to a Friday statement from the agency. 
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Driving to Lake Tahoe by Car

The easiest access to the North shore is via I-80 from Sacramento, the San Francisco Bay area or Reno. At Truckee take CA 89 south into Tahoe City or Squaw Valley, or take US 50 to South Lake Tahoe from Sacramento or the Bay Area.

To get to the South Shore from Reno take US395 south through Carson City, then follow US 50 West to the Lake.

Regardless of the season, always be prepared to sudden and drastic changes in the weather. Winter or summer, storms can sweep in much faster than you can imagine and the change in conditions can make driving conditions very dangerous.

Lake Tahoe and Area Maps

Winter Driving Tips

• Check that your brakes, windshield wiper, defroster and heater are working properly.
• Make sure your antifreeze is fresh and the radiator is full. It’s a good idea to add special solvents to your windshield washer tank to keep it from freezing.
• Check your tires and carry the proper chains for your vehicle. A flashlight and chain repair kit can be vital. Have an accurate road map, a cell phone and emergency numbers and keep an extra key in your wallet or with another person in the vehicle.
• Additionally carry an ice scraper or de-icer, a broom, a shovel and towels. In case you really get stuck bring food, water, warm clothing and blankets.
• Allow extra time for the trip since winter conditions will show you down.
• Keep your tank full of gas.
• Most importantly, slow down. Ice and fog can put you out of control in seconds. Keep a much greater distance between you and other cars and stay extra alert for sudden changes in conditions. Maximum speed limit with chains is 25-30 mph.
• You must stop and put on chains if required to do so by an officer or posted signs.

There are several all-weather highways around Lake Tahoe except during the most severe weather. These include US 50 east over Echo Summit, CA 88 North from Stockton, CA 207 over the Kingsbury Grade, US 395 to US 50 West at Carson City and finally Highway 431 over Mount Rose going from Reno.