UPDATE: Friday, 2/15, 5:30 a.m. -- A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for all of southwest Oregon, including the Sikiyous and south Cascades, Jackson County, east Curry and Josephine Counties, east and central Douglas County and the Klamath Basin.
Snow and winds will create hazardous driving conditions above 1,500 feet. Various chain requirements are in effect this morning on all southwest Oregon I-5 mountain passes and on U.S. 199 in the Illinois Valley.
Drivers should expect delays and changing winter driving conditions today through the weekend.
Officials urge drivers not to travel unless necessary, and to prepare for winter driving conditions.
For detailed alerts, visit Tripcheck.com.
UPDATE: Thursday, 2/14, 5:00 a.m. -- The weather-caused closures and restrictions on Interstate 5 in southern Oregon and northern California have mostly been removed. But more snow is on the way and continued caution is advised.
A high wind advisory remains in effect from Weed to Yreka in Siskiyou County. CalTrans says travel for campers, trailers or permit loads is not recommended.
Siskiyou Pass is open, with only a "carry chains" advisory in effect.
But by Thursday afternoon, ODOT says much of southern Oregon's high country is expected to get snow and wind, making driving conditions hazardous in central Douglas county, eastern Curry county and Josephine county, the eastern Douglas county foothills and Jackson county. This includes Jacksonville hill on highway 238, sexton pass and Canyon mountain pass on interstate 5, and Toketee Falls at state route 138.
Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches between 2000 and 3000 feet with up to 12 inches are expected above 3000 feet. Also, an accumulation of up to 2 inches is possible between 1500 and 2000 feet during early Friday morning.
ODOT warns travel could be "difficult to impossible."
Similar condittions are expected in the Klamath basin and northern and eastern Klamath county and western Lake county. That includes to highway 97 from Modoc point north to Chemult, and Bly mountain on highway 140.
UPDATE: Wednesday, 2/13, 3:15 p.m. -- Interstate 5 southbound into California is again open to commercial trucks, south of Ashland. Expect congestion and delays traveling into California.
No chain requirement, other than carry, over Siskiyou Summit.
For the latest restrictions in California, click here.
UPDATE: Wednesday, 2/13, 2:10 p.m. -- Interstate 5 remains closed to southbound commercial traffic at exit 11.
The Oregon Department of Transportation is still holding all southbound I-5 commercial truck traffic at Ashland, Exit 11, at Caltrans/CHP request. Expect delays of two hours or more.
Caltrans/CHP reports the southbound hold at I-5 Yreka is removed. All traffic, but commercial traffic, can proceed south of Yreka. I-5 remains closed to southbound trucks 26 miles south of Yreka at Edgewood in Shasta County.
I-5 remains closed to northbound traffic 10 miles north of Redding at Fawndale.
Chains or snow tires are required on I-5 from 24 miles north of Redding to 19 miles south of Dunsmuir.
Chains are required on all vehicles except 4-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels from 3 miles south of Dunsmuir to 3 miles north of Weed in Siskiyou County.
UPDATE: Wednesday, 2/13, 10:05 a.m. -- Caltrans/CHP reports the southbound hold at I-5 Yreka is removed. All traffic, but commercial traffic, can proceed south of Yreka.
ODOT is still holding all southbound I-5 commercial truck traffic at Ashland, Exit 11,
at Caltrans/CHP request. Expect winter driving conditions at higher elevations of southern Oregon.
Monitor conditions in Oregon at Tripcheck.com and at quickmap.dot.ca.gov in California.
UPDATE: Wednesday, 2/13, 9:04 a.m. -- ODOT is still holding all southbound I-5 commercial truck traffic at Ashland, Exit 11, due to heavy snow in the corridor south to Redding, at Caltrans/CHP request.
CalTrans reports all southbound traffic is being stopped at Yreka.
At Ashland, the southbound chain requirement is dropped for all other vehicles, except for carry.
Expect winter driving conditions at higher elevations of southern Oregon.
Monitor conditions in Oregon at Tripcheck.com/ in Calif. at quickmap.dot.ca.gov
ORIGINAL POST: Severe winter driving conditions have led ODOT and CalTrans to prohibit all southbound I-5 commercial truck traffic at Ashland due to heavy snow in the corridor south to Redding.
Officials are urging drivers not to travel the I-5 corridor between Ashland and Redding unless necessary.
On Sikiyou Pass, chains are required on all vehicles excluding four-wheel drive vehicles unless towing. Expect delays.
Chains or snow tires are required 24 miles north of Redding to 19 miles south of Dunsmuir.
10 miles out of Redding, Interstate-5 northbound at Fawndale has been shutdown due to snow.
Chains are required on all vehicles except 4-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on all 4 wheels:
3 miles south of Dunsmuir to 3 miles north of Weed at Black Butte Summit.
3 miles north to 8 miles north of Yreka at Anderson Grade.
For updated information:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/paffairs/social-media.html
https://www.tripcheck.com/DynamicReports/Report/RoadConditions
