Sierra snow surprises

Friday, Sept. 19, 1997 | 1:32 a.m.

People driving over Mount Rose were told to chain up early Friday, three days before autumn begins.

The Nevada Highway Patrol reported snow on the summit south of Reno along with several spinouts, none of them serious.

Chains or snow tires were required over the summit while the storm dropped rain in the valleys around Reno and Carson City.

Light snow also surprised morning commuters on Interstate-80 at Donner Summit.

An upper level disturbance from Oregon dropped into Northern California overnight spreading light snow around Lake Tahoe.

Richard Gau of the Sierra Lakes Water District, recorded 4 inches at the 7,800-foot level on Mt. Babbit.

Herb Holden, who works at a lodge west of Donner Summit, reported an inch of snow Friday morning.

Clear skies were forecast for the weekend with a return to seasonal temperatures in time for the start of fall on Monday.

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