Weekend travel discourged during winter storms

REDDING —The upcoming winter weather systems have prompted officials to discourage road travel this weekend.

The National Weather Service is forecasting continuing storm systems for the Northern California area starting Saturday and continuing into next week, according to a press release issued Friday by Caltrans. Significant snow is forecast for the mountains and foothills, with chances of snow down to the valley floor.

In Red Bluff, rain is mainly set to fall Saturday before 1 p.m. with showers likely, and possibly a thunderstorm after 4 p.m., while temperatures are expected to reach in the lower 50s with winds from the south to southeast between 20 to 25 mph. In the afternoon, those winds are expected to become southwest winds between 14 and 19 miles an hour.

The National Weather Service also said that new rainfall amounts are expected to be between 10 and a quarter inch of rain, with higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Showers are expected to continue to fall until 7 p.m. Saturday, rain after that point, with the low dropping to around 37 degrees.
By Sunday, forecasters expect the chance of rain to drop to about 40%.

Some higher elevations of Tehama County, like Manton, are expected to see snow and rain through Tuesday.

Motorists who must travel into even higher elevations must carry chains, be prepared for winter driving conditions, expect delays and possible closures, and follow instructions of Caltrans personnel and law enforcement. Travelers who do not comply with chain controls endanger their safety and other motorists’ safety, jeopardizing vital maintenance operations to keep roadways safe and open. Truck or vehicle screening is likely at various locations on Interstate 5 between Redding and the Oregon border before or during the storms.

Highway conditions are available via QuickMap, the release said. Motorists can use QuickMap, a free smartphone app, and can now opt-in for push notifications for highway closures and chain control areas as travelers approach these areas. Other resources include One-Stop-Shop or the Caltrans Highway Information Network at 1-800-427-7623. Motorists can also follow Caltrans District 2 on our Twitter and Facebook pages for important traffic updates.

Travelers are reminded to be wary of using non-highway alternative routes in the event of highway closures. These routes may not be maintained or open during inclement weather events and may have size restrictions for larger vehicles. Contact local city or county agencies for current roadway status or restrictions on non-highway routes.