Chain controls dropped on I-80, Highway 50 in the Sierra

Both Interstate 80 and Highway 50 in Northern California's high country were seeing extended closures as extreme weather blanketed the region.

As of around 1 p.m. Friday, Caltrans says chain controls have been dropped on both Interstate 80 and Highway 50. 

Both freeways had been seeing constant chain controls this week as storm after storm rolled through the region. 

Closures were also in place at times due to extremely challenging conditions at the summit. 

It appears that travelers have already started trekking up to the high country in significant numbers, with Sugar Bowl Resort already warning that parking was nearing capacity before noon Friday.