If you’ve ever tried to drive the Siskiyou Pass during a winter storm, you know exactly how quickly things go from "a little chilly" to "I can’t see the hood of my truck." Right now, that’s exactly what's happening. Interstate 5 is closed due to blizzard conditions at the Oregon-California border, and honestly, it’s a mess out there. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Caltrans made the call earlier today to shut down a massive stretch of the freeway because the wind and snow basically turned the Siskiyou Summit into a white wall.
It isn't just a light dusting. We are talking about genuine blizzard conditions where the wind is whipping snow across the lanes faster than the plows can clear it. Visibility is essentially zero.
Why the Siskiyou Pass is a nightmare right now
The Siskiyou Summit is the highest point on the entire I-5, sitting at about 4,310 feet. When a cold front hits the Pacific Northwest and slams into the mountains, this specific spot becomes a funnel for high winds and heavy precipitation.
Today’s closure isn't just about the snow on the ground; it’s the whiteout conditions. You've got gusts hitting 50+ mph. That makes it impossible for drivers to stay in their lanes, and more importantly, it makes it dangerous for emergency crews to get to anyone who slides off.
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Southbound traffic is being stopped as far north as Ashland, and northbound traffic is being held back in Redding or Weed, California. They do this on purpose. If they let you get closer to the border, you’ll just end up stuck in a small town like Hilt with nowhere to sleep and no gas stations that can handle a thousand idling cars.
The "Redding Trap" and why you shouldn't push it
Locals call it the Redding Trap. When I-5 closes heading north, Redding fills up fast. Like, every hotel room is gone within two hours fast.
If you are currently sitting in Redding or Medford wondering if you can "sneak through" or take a back road—don't. Seriously. The mountain passes surrounding I-5, like Highway 58 or the routes toward the coast, often face the same (or worse) conditions during a blizzard.
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- Highway 97: Often stays open longer but is much colder and prone to black ice.
- Highway 199: The Redwood Highway to the coast is curvy and dangerous in slush.
- The "Backroads": Google Maps might suggest a forest service road. Following it in a blizzard is a great way to end up as a local news headline. Stay on the main roads.
Real talk on chain requirements
Even when they reopen the gates, don't expect a clear road. Oregon and California law is pretty strict here. If the "Chains Required" sign is flashing, they mean it.
I’ve seen plenty of people in AWD Subarus think they’re invincible until they hit a patch of frozen slush on a 6% grade. In Oregon, even if you have four-wheel drive, you are often required to carry chains in your vehicle during these months. If you don't have them and you cause a block, the fines are steep.
What should you do right now?
If you're stuck, the best thing you can do is find a spot with a solid Wi-Fi signal and wait. This isn't a "wait an hour" situation. Blizzard closures on the border usually last anywhere from six to twenty-four hours depending on how fast the wind dies down.
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- Check TripCheck and Caltrans: These are the bibles for this route. Use TripCheck.com for the Oregon side and QuickMap for California.
- Fill your tank: If you are near a gas station, top off. You don't want to be running your heater for four hours on an empty tank.
- Check the "Wind Advisory": Sometimes the snow stops, but the "high wind" keeps the road closed because of the risk of semi-trucks tipping over.
- Stay in a town: If you’re in Ashland, stay there. If you’re in Weed or Mt. Shasta, stay there. Do not park on the shoulder of the freeway.
Basically, the mountain won this round. The I-5 closure at the border is a safety play to keep people from getting stranded in sub-zero temperatures. It sucks to have your travel plans ruined, but it sucks a lot more to be stuck in a snowbank at 4,000 feet.
Monitor the weather forecasts for Siskiyou County and Jackson County. Usually, once the sun comes up and the plows can see what they're doing, they’ll try to run "escorts" where a plow leads a pack of cars through. Until then, grab a coffee and stay off the pass.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Download the Caltrans QuickMap app and set alerts for I-5 North.
- Verify your chain sizes before the sun goes down if you're planning to move once it reopens.
- If you're heading south, look for lodging in Medford now before the Ashland hotels are at capacity.