Weekend storm dumps up to 4 feet of snow at Tahoe

Martin Griffith

Monday, Feb. 28, 2000 | 10:42 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Lake Tahoe residents got out the snow shovels Monday after a storm dumped up to up to 4 feet of snow over the weekend.

Interstate 80 was open with no controls Monday, but chains or snow tires were still required on other highways, including U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass.

"It was a very decent storm and we have more coming," said National Weather Service forecaster Danny Mercer. "It looks like the unsettled weather pattern will continue for at least the next 10 days."

No major weather-related accidents were reported, but a number of minor accidents clogged Tahoe highways over the weekend.

Motorists faced delays of up to 2 1/2 hours Sunday as bumper-to-bumper traffic was reported on both I-80 and Highway 50, Caltrans officials said.

By early Sunday morning, the latest storm had pushed Tahoe's snowpack to 102 percent of normal for the season.

The storm left up to 3 feet of new snow at the Kirkwood ski resort south of Tahoe and 4 feet at Alpine Meadows north of Tahoe.

Recent heavy snow will ensure that Squaw Valley north of Tahoe stays open until its traditional May 31 closing date, said spokeswoman Katja Dahl.

Squaw and other Tahoe resorts are coming off a strong Presidents Day weekend, their busiest of the season.

"We couldn't ask for better conditions right now, especially considering the slow start (to winter)," Dahl said.

"We've caught up and things are definitely looking good. It looks like it should be a very strong spring."

Tahoe lodging representatives reported few weekend vacancies through March.

The weather service was calling for a break in the weather Monday before the arrival of another storm early Tuesday.

"It doesn't look like the next storm will be as strong, but behind that one will be another storm Thursday," Mercer said. "The 10-day outlook calls for a storm every two or three days."

Water watchers said the recent storms have dramatically eased summer water concerns and improved the outlook for farmers.