Sierra Businesses Seeing A Greatly Improved MLK Holiday Weekend With More Snow

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A year after low-snow levels meant a grim Martin Luther King holiday weekend for some Lake Tahoe businesses, resorts are reveling in a much stronger snowpack and an oncoming storm.

Friday was a busy travel day as people headed up to the Sierra for an early start to try and beat crowds.

Carthon Johnson made sure he was well-prepared as another storm approaches.

"Trying to get out and enjoy the snow with the family," he said. "Got the chains, get out of here safe."

Caltrans crews worked through the night to clear the roadways as an estimated 100,000 people are expected to visit South Lake Tahoe, with business up and hotels almost at 100 percent occupancy.

The U.S. Forest Service issued a backcountry avalanche warning on Friday that is expected to last into Saturday morning for Yuba Pass on the north and Ebbetts Pass on the south.