Winter storm pummels Sierra with heavy snow

Sandra Chereb

Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000 | 9:42 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Miserable traveling conditions persisted in the Sierra Nevada early today as a winter storm that roared into the region over the weekend continued to pummel the area with heavy snow.

Chains or snow tires were required on all mountain passes, including Interstate 80 over Donner Summit.

U.S. 50 in California was closed early today from five miles east of Kyburz to Pollock Pines. The Mount Rose Highway southwest of Reno reopened around 8:30 a.m. after being closed for 15 hours due to an avalanche.

The biggest winter storm of the season that pushed into the region on Sunday dumped about 7 feet of snow at Boreal Ski Area near Donner Summit. Kirkwood reported 5 to 6 feet.

Heavy, wet snow triggered an avalanche Monday afternoon near the summit of the Mount Rose Highway. The 5:30 p.m. slide partially buried a car but the driver was able to get out safely and no one was hurt, authorities said.

In the Reno area, the storm started out as a wintry mix of snow and slush, but changed to rain overnight. Since Monday, an inch of moisture was recorded at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

A winter storm warning for the region above 6,500 feet was canceled overnight. But the National Weather Service predicted another 2 to 4 inches of snow at the higher elevations today before the storm moved out by evening.

No major accidents were reported, though authorities responded to numerous spinouts on Monday.

The storm was the second system of the season to bring much needed snow to the region.

As January began, the Sierra snowpack stood at only a fraction of what is considered normal. Many ski resorts struggled to make their own snow to lure skiers to the slopes.

Overall, the Sierra snowpack in early January was a scant 22 percent of normal following the seventh driest December since record keeping began nearly 80 years ago.

But the latest storm represents huge gains in the snowpack that, come spring, provides water for the thirsty valleys of California and Nevada.

The first measurable storm of the season didn't materialize until the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, when anywhere from a few inches to 2 feet of snow was reported.

For ski resort operators, the latest storm lends some assurance for a successful season.

"We are very happy. We'll be 100 percent open by (today)," said Monica Bandows, spokeswoman for Heavenly Ski Resort on the south shore of Lake Tahoe.

Because of the slow start to the ski season, the resort may not realize a record year, "But we'll be right on track," she said.