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Snow in the higher elevations around Redding on Wednesday has prompted driving restrictions on North State highways and disrupted school schedules.
Northbound Interstate 5 is closed to all traffic at the Fawndale exit, about 10 miles north of Redding. This is due to big rigs that have spun out on the freeway.
In addition, southbound I-5 is closed at Lakehead due to multiple disabled big rigs that are blocking all lanes, the California Department of Transportation said.
Earlier Wednesday, traffic on Interstate 5 was being screened and semi trucks were being turned around at the Fawndale exit due to snowy conditions farther north on the freeway.
Caltrans lifted the restriction on big rigs around 10:30 a.m. and allowed them to travel the freeway north of Redding if they have chains, but the storm continues to impact the area.
But officials closed the freeway Wednesday afternoon as the winter storm wreaked havoc through the Sacramento River Canyon.
While there was the potential for snow in Redding during the day Wednesday, it was rain falling in the city, although snow was accumulating by midafternoon about 12 miles west of Redding in the Whiskeytown National…