Last Updated, Feb. 20, 8:30 a.m.
The Winter Storm Warning has expired, but cold morning temperatures and icy conditions remain. The County is coordinating with local fire agencies to respond to power outages, including clearing downed trees from roads and power lines in support of ongoing PG&E restoration efforts.
Dial 2-1-1 to reach a local Connecting Point specialist. 2-1-1 can help connect residents to shelter, food, warming locations, and other storm resources.
County Buildings
All Nevada County buildings are open regular hours today. Library branches open for their regular hours at 10 a.m. or later. They are a great option to warm up, charge devices and connect to internet for those without power. Find library branch info.
Roads
Crews continued addressing trees into roadways and conducting snowplow operations overnight. Due to icy overnight temperatures and morning conditions, sand trucks are out on County-maintained roadways. Crews focus first on main routes and emergency access, then move into secondary neighborhood roads as conditions allow.
View updates on County-maintained roads
During regular work hours, report downed trees or issues on County-maintained roadways to Nevada County Public Works at 530-265-1411. Report down power lines, urgent after-hour or weekend incidents to 9-1-1.
CalTrans for Highway 20, 49, 80, 89, 174, 267 Road Conditions
For up-to-the-minute closure notifications on Highways within Nevada County, go to the CalTrans Road Conditions link below. CalTrans oversees all highways throughout California, including 20, 49, 80, 89, 174, and 267 within Nevada County.
CalTrans Road ConditionsCalTrans Distrct 3 Facebook Page
CalTrans Traffic Cameras
CalTrans Winter Driving Tips
Transit
Nevada County Connects transit routes are currently running normal schedules. For those planning to attend the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, Nevada County Connects is providing a free shuttle from 12:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. today (Friday) and from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, running every 20 minutes between the Broad Street Bridge in Nevada City and the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley.
Warming Shelter
Sierra Roots, in partnership with Nevada County, will open the Emergency Weather Shelter for Sierra Roots, in partnership with Nevada County, will open the Emergency Weather Shelter for a fifth night tonight, Feb. 20. Location: Nevada City Vets Hall, 415 N Pine Street. The shelter provides a warm, safe indoor space for community members who need protection from dangerous overnight weather. Participants can expect a warm place to sleep indoors with blankets, hot dinner and breakfast, and basic supplies to support health and safety. Doors Open between 4:30 - 8 p.m. Dinner is served at 5:30 p.m. Pets are welcome. Pets must remain with their owner, and stay on leash at all times. Volunteer and meal sponsor opportunities. Sierra Roots welcomes community support during shelter activations. If you are interested in volunteering or becoming a meal sponsor, please contact alice@sierraroots.org.
The Commons Resource Center remains open for anyone seeking daytime respite, even as most County facilities are closed due to the storm. Located at 1105 Sutton Way, Grass Valley. Operating Hours: Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Report Road Hazards or Utility Emergencies
Drive safely and report any flooding, mudslides or downed trees on County maintained roadways at public.works@nevadacountyca.gov or 530-265-1411. Crews are on call after hours to respond to urgent issues. Nevada County Sanitation District customers can report emergent issues 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 530-265-1555.
Report downed power lines by calling 9-1-1 and then contacting your utility provider: PG&E at 1-800-743-5000, Truckee Donner Public Utility District at 530-587-3896, or Liberty Utilities at 1-844-245-6868. Never touch or walk near a downed powerline, assume it is energized and extremely dangerous.
Check in on neighbors. Please take a moment to check in on neighbors, especially seniors or anyone with limited mobility. With ongoing outages, a quick call or visit could make a big difference.
Generators
If using generators during outages, keep them outside and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Roof/snow load safety
With heavy snowfall across Nevada County, the Building Department urges residents and businesses to monitor roofs for structural stress, especially flat, low-slope, or older buildings, and to keep vents clear to prevent carbon monoxide hazards. Property owners should exercise caution when removing snow and contact licensed contractors if assistance is needed. More information can be found on this webpage.
Food safety
With extended power outages in Nevada County, the Department of Environmental Health reminds residents to keep refrigerators and freezers closed to protect perishable food, discard any items above 40°F or showing signs of spoilage. More information and resources can be found on this linked webpage.
Get No-Cost Sand
Self-serve sand to help prevent localized flooding is available to Nevada County residents at no cost. Bring your own shovel and sandbags to one of four locations in western Nevada County:
- Nevada County Warehouse Corner of Highway 49 and East Broad Street, Nevada City, CA 95959
- Penn Valley Fire Protection District 10513 Spenceville Road, Penn Valley, CA 95946
- North San Juan Community Hall 10057 Reservoir Street, North San Juan, CA 95960
- Higgins Fire Department 10106 Combie Road, Auburn, CA 95602
Sandbags are available for purchase online or at various local businesses or hardware stores, but plan ahead for holiday closures or reduced hours.
More information is available at www.ReadyNevadaCounty.org/Sand.
Ready, Set, Snow!
Be ready with a full propane tank and plan to use fuel sparingly. Heavy storm conditions will delay fuel deliveries.
Line up snowplowing services in advance to ensure private driveways and roads remain accessible. For extensive, urgent storm damage cleanup, consider organizing with neighbors for coordinated tree debris removal.
Keep the following vendor contacts on hand for:
- Propane Service
- Emergency Tree Service
- Snowplow
- Telecommunications
- Firewood
- Insurance
More information and tips at www.ReadyNevadaCounty.org/WinterPreparedness.