Winter does a spring thing

Tom Gardner

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:32 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - People who were lulled into a false sense of security when the first day of spring arrived last week forgot one thing - this is Nevada.

And the typically capricious spring weather is serving up a wintry blend of wind, snow and lilac-nipping cold.

A snow advisory was in effect overnight for the eastern Sierra from Lassen County south into Mono County, where forecasters said accumulations could be in the 6-12 inch range by daybreak Saturday.

Snow along the U.S. 395 corridor in the Reno-Carson City-Minden area of western Nevada was expected to be under 2 inches - just enough to coat the streets and highways.

The low was to be centered over Nevada on Saturday, bringing snow showers and unseasonably cold temperatures. Gusty winds combined with the new accumulation were expected to make for a miserable driving day over the Sierra.

This week's storms also have contributed to a high avalanche threat outside developed ski areas in the mountains above 6,800 feet.

The warning means that mostly unstable snow exists in the back country and avalanches are likely on steep slopes and gullies.

The brunt of the storm was to push south on Sunday, allowing for a little clearing and warming.

Eastern Nevada also was feeling winter's bite. White Pine County was under a winter storm warning through Saturday and a snow advisory was in place for the Ruby Mountains, the East Humboldt Range and for southern Lander and Eureka counties.

Forecasters called for nearly 2 feet of snow by late Saturday in the mountains of White Pine County and nearly a foot in the valleys.

North and west of there, the outlook called for up to a foot of snow in the Rubies and the Humboldt range and 4-8 inches in the lower areas of southern Lander and Eureka counties before the storms tapered off to scattered snow showers Saturday night.

After the balmy temperatures of late, spring flowers and budding trees will be shocked by lows in the 20s and highs reaching only the mid 30s to the low 40s.