California’s I-80 set for ‘really hazardous road conditions’ as storm slams Tahoe

Meteorologists expected the heaviest snowfall, with hourly rates of up to  to 3 inches, in areas above 4,000 feet starting at 10 a.m. and lasting through 5 p.m.

Chain controls were required on all vehicles Wednesday from Nyack (Placer County) to Truckee (Nevada County), according to the California Department of Transportation.

Overnight, 1 to 3 inches of snow was reported in the Sierra mountains and up to an inch in the northern portion of Shasta County, said Kate Forrest, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office. 

Some ski resorts in Lake Tahoe also reported low amounts of snow. Kirkwood Mountain Resort saw about an inch, Palisades Tahoe recorded two inches and Sugar Bowl Resort had three inches, Forrest said.

A winter storm warning is in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday for Western Plumas County, the Lassen Volcanic National Park area and the west slope of the northern Sierra Nevada, including Interstate 80 over Donner Pass, Highway 50 over Echo Summit, and Highway 88 over Carson Pass, according to the National Weather Service.

Mountain travel was discouraged Wednesday. Road closures and delays are possible.

“There are going to be some really hazardous road conditions … but if they do need to go into the mountains, we advise people to carry something like a NOAA weather (so) they can receive weather information,” Forrest said.

Reach Jessica Flores: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @jesssmflores