Amador County – An area of Highway 88 in the Carson Spur area near Kirkwood Mountain Resort was blocked by falling snow on Monday morning, temporarily trapped as many as four cars and shutting down areas of road for up to 2 hours. The California Highway Patrol said that although there was a minor avalanche, earlier reports of an avalanche burying vehicles were exaggerations. CalTrans crews worked diligently to clear the snow from the roadway and eliminate banks that may cause future road disruptions. The CHP said these types of snow buildups are common during winter storms. Heavy rain and snow is forecast for our area into next weekend. The National Weather Service is warning residents in snow areas to lookout for avalanches, especially in areas above the tree line, and to avoid driving upcountry while severe weather conditions persist. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.