NorCal Battered by Storm, Chain Controls in Effect

0:00It's April 21st, I'm Corey with The Story, and this is California News Today, your AI-powered local news. Northern California is getting hammered by rain and snow today, turning roads slick and sparking chain controls on major routes like Interstate 80 and Highway 50. Expect heavy snow above 6,000 feet, with over a foot possible at the passes and soaking rains flooding lowlands until tomorrow afternoon. This system's a day-long event spilling into early Wednesday under winter storm warnings and advisories till 5 p.m. Up high, snow's mixing with rain now, but will ramp up as colder air dies in, while Bali sees steady downpours from grass valley to Sacramento. Drivers are feeling the hit hard, with spinouts and crashes piling up, like that five vehicle wreck on Westbound Highway 50 near Prairie City from flooding. Lanes are closing, speeds dropping to 10 miles per hour in spots, and commutes stretching out 15 to 20 minutes longer. After noon could bring thunderstorms packing hail, plus risks of power outages, and more

1:02weather crashes as showers linger into evening. Chains are mandatory, unless you've got four-wheel drive, and snow tires, dropping speed limits to 30 on Interstate 80 and 25 on. Highway 50. Stay cautious out there. Check CalTrans before hitting the high country, and we'll keep buys on these impacts as they evolve through the week.