Live storm updates: Hwy 1 closure in Pacifica expected to last through evening commute

The snow was prepared for, but a heavy soaking from rain was a troublemaker in San Jose and it caused a dangerous situation to unfold this morning.

In the South Bay, there was rain and even snow coming down in San Jose on Tuesday.

The snow was prepared for, but a heavy soaking from rain was a troublemaker in San Jose and it caused a dangerous situation to unfold this morning.

Adrienne Oxley said it was like something out of a movie.

Around 10 o'clock this morning, she and her husband heard a tree behind their property come down that took overhead lines along with it.

It knocked out power and started a fire.

"All of a sudden, everything started sparking and it went all the way along to the line over there and there," Oxley said. "And the tree started coming down. It was just the perfect storm. Probably all the water pulled the roots up from the tree. The tree fell down into the pool, and something triggered that because everything went off at that point."

Thankfully, crews were able to put out the fire without any serious damage or injuries.

"I'm just glad that we're safe and nothing happened," Oxley said. "I'm going to stay on that side of the house the rest of the day. I'm not going near this side."

Utility crews nearby were on standby in case of other issues.

But up on Mt. Hamilton, there a sense of calm from preparation.

"It's been snowing up here since about five this morning," Superintendent Jamey Eriksen said. "There's an inch or two on the ground. Currently it's snowing pretty good. The 36-inch telescope's temporary slit was finished about a week ago."

A month of dry weather allowed contractors to repair damage caused by a Christmas storm that ripped a 5-ton shutter off the observatory.

RELATED: Lick Observatory repairs continue 3 weeks after devastating Christmas storm

A Christmas storm caused incredible damage to the Lick Observatory visitor's center and work to repair the building before the next storm is ongoing.

Ericksen says plywood and metal on top of the dome, along with waterproofing and an ice shield, will keep the telescope protected until there is a permanent solution.

"And we've had 60 mile an hour plus winds since they've completed it, and it's holding up, so far, nicely," Eriksen said.

Eriksen says the road to the mountain is closed due to the snowy conditions.

But when things clear, work will continue to hopefully allow guests to return for spring break - ahead of the observatory's anniversary celebration this summer.

Search and rescue crews were looking for multiple backcountry skiers feared missing Tuesday after a reported avalanche in Northern California as a powerful winter storm moved through the state, authorities said.

The Nevada County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call at about 11:30 a.m. from someone reporting an avalanche with people buried, said Ashley Quadros, a spokesperson.

The sheriff's office, the sheriff's Search & Rescue team and a crew with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection were combing the area of Castle Peak, which is northwest of Lake Tahoe, Quadros said.

"It has been reported that a group of backcountry skiers was involved in the incident, with several members of the party missing at this time," the sheriff's office wrote in a Facebook post.

A Sierra Avalanche Center official told ABC News that the group of more than a dozen backcountry skiers was leaving an overnight hut trip at Frog Lake Hut.

At least 10 of them were caught in the avalanche, but it's unclear how many were fully buried, partially buried, or injured.

Officials say the group reported three members were actively working to dig out victims.

Rough roads up in the Sierra Sunday as this storm packs a punch. It's made for a rough drive home for people who spent the holiday weekend in the snow.

Rough roads up in the Sierra Sunday as this storm packs a punch.

Spinouts have led to on-and-off closures on 80 and 50 heading up to Tahoe.

It's made for a rough drive home for people who spent the holiday weekend in the snow.

Kevin "Coop" Cooper described how the snow was looking on this Monday night.

He's in Meyers off of Highway 50.

"It's light and dry. We haven't seen the big winds we were expecting at first. It is falling pretty much straight down," said Cooper.

The Sierra will get hit with several feet of snow by the time this week is over.

"We could see upwards of 8 feet of snow. But right now, if we're conservative, we're going to say 3-6 feet around the region. It's going to center down the south so Kirkwood, Bear, China, Dodge- that range right here seems like it's going to get a bit more," said Cooper.

Many Bay Area families have been eager to see the snow.

"We have ski week, you know. No school the next week, so just taking my daughter up to the snow to have some friends with her friends," said Carlos Cunha of the Bay Area.

ABC7 Eyewitness News talked to San Jose resident Jose Guerrero.

He arrived in Truckee Sunday afternoon and said there wasn't really any snow on the ground. But then things changed overnight.

He described what the snow conditions were like Monday.

"We have only received in Tahoe Donner- 14 inches so far," said Guerrero. "Snow has been steady. Not heavy. Some visibility is still good. When wind picks up. White out conditions do come up."

Guerrero says he's ready for the storm.

"We are OK. We have water. We have a generator as a backup. We have plenty of food in the house,' said Guerrero.

This severe storm created some serious slowdowns on the roads. The freeway was shutdown for a while Monday because of spinouts.

"It's a little nerve-racking, especially if you're not used to driving in the snow like this. And we got 4-5 hours up and they turned us around twice almost," said Bay Area resident Gabe Ghanzafanri.

Guerrero, a former SJ Fire Department Battalion Chief, reminds people to slow down.

He said he saw one vehicle almost flipped on the side. He says that's because the driver was going too fast.

"Today I saw two vehicle accidents from people speeding. You really need to slow down. All of us need to slow down to 15 miles per hour. Sometimes 20 maximum because it's easy to lose control. There's ice on the ground especially as the sun goes down," said Guerrero.

Experts say all this snow is a good reset -- especially for the snowpack and for ski resorts.

Bay Area residents didn't have to go all the way to the Sierra to see snow on Tuesday morning, with some in the North Bay waking up to a wintry surprise.

Bay Area residents didn't have to go all the way to the Sierra to see snow on Tuesday morning.

Lightning, thunder and even snow made for a surprising Tuesday morning for many living in the North Bay.

"I looked out my patio window, and it was snow, big snowflakes," said Eisabeth Ruth Zemansky of Angwin.

All of it made for a surprising Tuesday morning for many living in the North Bay.

Zemansky said she woke up to the sounds of the storm around 4:30 a.m.

"Starting to rain, and then around about two minutes to five, the first big crash of thunder. And then I saw lightning," she said.

Those who wanted to see the winter wonderland in that part of the North Bay had to get up pretty early because by about 7 a.m. the rain had already started to wash most of that snow away.

Though it was mostly Angwin hit by snow, the thunder and lightning could be felt in other parts of the North Bay.

Video sent to us from Stephanie Hoobler and her son Patrick from Sebastapol shows a flash of lightning in the sky.

ABC7 Eyewitness News captured a lightning strike seen in Novato followed by many more and a downpouring of rain along Northbound Highway 101.

In Belvedere, hail could be seen slamming into the ground.

North Bay residents were staying ready as sandbags were selling quickly more than a month after widespread flooding did millions of dollars in damage, sand bags sold quickly at a Marin County hardware store.

This wet weather comes with important reminders from first responders.

"Look at your local weather and please slow down for the rain. Drive with your headlights on and just be cautious of any emergency equipment on the road," said Battalion Chief Jake Rosebrock with Marin County Fire Department.