SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Travelers attempting to leave the Lake Tahoe Basin faced severe delays on Sunday, as traffic remained stuck throughout the day, with conditions showing little improvement into the evening. Those trying to navigate the area between Kyburz and Meyers on US50 encountered heavily congested or halted traffic due to numerous spinouts and stranded vehicles. Other routes, including I80, experienced similar slowdowns, while SR89 was shut down after a collision involving a California Highway Patrol vehicle at Luther Pass.
As of 5:30 p.m., traffic cameras captured frustrating scenes across the region, including US50 at Wright’s Lake, US50 in Meyers, I80 at Donner Summit, and I80 at Castle Peak.
According to Caltrans, several routes are currently challenged by adverse conditions:
SR88 is closed to eastbound traffic three miles west of Silver Lake due to multiple spinouts, and additional closures exist at Dew Drop and Kirkwood caused by separate traffic collisions. Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes.
On US50, chain controls are in effect, requiring all vehicles except those with 4-wheel drive equipped with snow tires on all four wheels to carry chains from 1.6 miles west of Kyburz to Meyers.
SR89 is also experiencing chain requirements from Bliss State Park to the junction with I80. A temporary closure is in place at Luther Pass due to a collision.
I80 has road closures extending from 2.1 miles east of Baxter to the Nevada State Line due to multiple spinouts. Additionally, eastbound access for tractor-semitrailer combinations is restricted at Applegate until conditions improve. All drivers are being advised to possess maximum chains before proceeding.
For real-time updates on road conditions in California, motorists can visit the official QuickMAP site, and for Nevada, the NV Roads website is available for updates.
Travelers are encouraged to exercise patience and caution while navigating these challenging conditions during the busy holiday season.