Parts of the Sierra Nevada mountain range were particularly hard hit. Up to 3 meters of snow is expected there. Winds are blowing at a speed of more than 300 kilometers per hour.
The storm caused a power outage. In Nevada, 33,000 homes lost power, and in California, 24,000 connections were lost.
Travel through the affected area is almost impossible. A 121-kilometer major highway in the Sierra Nevada is closed due to heavy snowfall. Emergency services find it difficult to reach stranded motorists on the highway.
The National Weather Service fears life-threatening conditions for people living near Lake Tahoe. The U.S. Weather Service is urging people throughout the affected area to stay indoors as much as possible.
