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When do the passes close for winter? The passes close for the season when the first severe winter weather arrives in the Sierra. That usually happens sometime between mid-November and mid-December. It could be earlier. Occasionally, winter won’t arrive until early January, but that is quite unusual. Monitor Pass, on Highway 89, is lower and a ...
Even the highways that aren’t closed all winter can be closed temporarily during and right after a big storm. Some of the passes are vulnerable to avalanches. Caltrans will close the road, intentionally cause an avalanche, then use heavy equipment to clear the snow slide from the road.
See our Road Closures page to find out which Sierra passes are usually open, closed in winter, and when things change. Things can change suddenly in the mountains. Check the Caltrans QuickMap for the current conditions.
Caltrans District 10 manages three passes in the Central Sierra that are closed during winter and re-opened in the spring. These passes are: Ebbetts Pass (State Route 4) in Alpine County, Sonora Pass (State Route 108) in Tuolumne County, and Monitor Pass (State Route 89) in Alpine County.
May 14, 2024 · Winter Road Closures. On This Page. Tioga Road closes due to snow, usually from sometime in November through late May or early June. The road closure extends from the Tuolumne Grove, just east of Crane Flat, to Tioga Pass Entrance Station.
Mountain Pass Closures. Before driving, check with the Caltrans Highway Information Network (CHIN) 800.427.7623. Historical Mountain Pass Closure Dates (PDF) Before Heading for Snow Country.
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Dec 24, 2019 · winds through Tejon Pass at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. Full closures of I-5, due to snow and icy conditions, occur during the winter months an average of 3-5 times between October and April. Typically, closures last from 4-6 hours, however some may last longer than 24 hours.