[UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: The Avenue Closed] Snow in the Hills and Coastal Hail: What Drivers Face This Morning

Crashes during hail storm south of Eureka on Tuesday. Hail is predicted again for the area. [Screenshot of video provided by reader Tom Sadler]

The National Weather Service reports that “a cold weather system will bring continued small hail to the coastal areas of Northwest California this morning. Use extreme caution if hail falls while driving.” On Tuesday, similar warnings predicted correctly the driving conditions that led to dozens of crashes in the Humboldt Bay to Trinidad areas.

Multiple crashes on Tuesday south of Eureka captured on car cam. [Video provided by reader Tom Sadler]

At higher elevations, a Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. for the interior mountains of Humboldt and Del Norte counties, including areas around Dinsmore, Berry Summit on Highway 299, Bald Hills Road and Highway 199 near the Collier Tunnel. Snow levels are hovering around 1,500 feet, with an additional 4 to 10 inches possible and the potential for snow levels to briefly drop as low as 1,000 feet during heavier bursts. Travel through mountain passes could be very difficult to impossible, and chains are required in multiple areas.

Farther south, inland Mendocino County and parts of southern Humboldt are under a Cold Weather Advisory until 10 a.m., with temperatures dipping into the low 20s in some interior valleys and the upper 20s along the coast.

Below is a detailed look at conditions on the major highways and many county roads across the region as crews continue to respond to snow, hail, downed trees and icy stretches.

Major Highways–Here’s What We Know:

(Most information below is from Caltrans’ Quick Map. If you are heading to Oregon, check their similar site. If you are heading to Nevada, check their similar site.)

• • Interstate 5: Caltrans says, “All vehicles are being screened for chains at the following locations on northbound Interstate 5 Fawndale, 10 miles north of Redding and Pollard Flat.”
    

    I-5 near Mott Road overpass by Dunsmuir. [Image from the Caltrans Traffic Cam]

  • Hwy 1: Open
  • Hwy 3: Chains required on and off from 7 miles north of Hayfork to 1 mile south of Douglas City and State Route 3 is CLOSED, at Scott Mountain AND Northbound Southbound SR 3 is closed from 20 miles north of Trinity Center to 3 miles south of Callahan at Scott Mtn (Trinity, Siskiyou Counties) due to snow
  • Hwy 20: Open but snow dusting.
    

    [Image from the Caltrans Traffic Cam]

  • Hwy 36: Chains required on and off from 3 miles west of Mad River (Zenia Road) to Platina
  • Hwy 96: Open
  • Hwy 101: Open but snowy in areas of Mendocino County
    

    Carry chains urges this Caltrans sign near Willits. [Image from the Caltrans Traffic Cam]

  • HWY 162 (Covelo Road): Open
  • Hwy 169 (Klamath): Open
  • Hwy 199: Open but snowy
    

    Snow near the Collier tunnel. [Image from the Caltrans Traffic Cam]

  • Hwy 211 (Ferndale): Open
  • Hwy 254 (Avenue of the Giants): UPDATE 9:05 a.m.: Open mostly but closed from from Holmes Flat Rd to Barkdull Rd for “tree work”
  • Hwy 255: Open
  • Hwy 271: Open
  • Hwy 299: Open but chains required off and on from 17.5 miles east of Blue Lake to 4.5 miles west of junction State Route 96.
    

    Sun touching the snow near Berry Summit [Image from the Caltrans Traffic Cam]

Humboldt County roads snow report:

• Alderpoint Road from Garberville, carry chains
• Pratt Mountain 2-3 inches of new snow, carry chains
• Shelter Cover Road, carry chains
• Kneeland Road 3 inches of new snow, carry chains
• Fickle Hill Road 4 inches of new snow, carry chains
• Monument Road, carry chains
• Bear River Ridge Road, carry chains
• Kneeland Road (Bridgeville area), chains required
• Showers Pass, chains required
• Redwood House Road, chains required
• Bald Hills Road, 1.5 feet of new snow, carry chains
• Titlow Hill Road, 13 inches of new snow, carry chains
• Johnson Road, carry chains
• Snow Camp Road open to Guy Kerr Ranch Road, chains required
• Guy Kerr Ranch Road, chains required
• High Prairie Road, chains required

The following Humboldt County roads are closed:

• • Bair Road-due to snow
  • Brannon Mountain Road-due to power lines down at mile marker 3.5
  • Stover Road-due to power lines down 1 mile from Bair Road

Trinity County Roads: No information at this time.

Mendocino County Roads: No information at this time.