Storm brings heavy snow, highway delays to Tahoe

Martin Griffith

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001 | 4:36 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - The first in a series of storms dumped up to 3 feet of snow in the Lake Tahoe area, and provided a much-needed boost to the region's ski resorts and snowpack.

A winter storm watch remained in effect through Sunday for much of the northern Sierra, where another storm was expected to leave 1 to 2 feet of snow.

Motorists faced mandatory chain controls and delays Saturday on all three major trans-Sierra highways in the Tahoe area.

The California Highway Patrol said Interstate 80 over Donner Summit was closed for nearly an hour Saturday afternoon due to low visibility.

To the south, Highway 50 over Echo Pass was closed for a couple of hours Saturday morning because of avalanche control efforts. The storm also temporarily shut down Highway 88 west of Kirkwood, Calif.

Chains or snow tires were required on most other Tahoe highways. No major weather-related accidents were reported.

While motorists cursed the storm, ski resort operators rejoiced. The heavy snow improved conditions just in time for the upcoming Presidents' Day holiday weekend, they said.

Over a 24-hour period ending Saturday morning, Alpine Meadows reported up to 3 feet of new snow, Boreal 2 1/2 feet, Kirkwood 2 feet and Heavenly 1 1/2 feet.

Until the storm, the Tahoe snowpack had been about 40 percent of average for the season.

"It's better late than never ... People now will be seeing the best ski conditions of the season," said Heavenly spokeswoman Monica Bandows.

"This is awesome timing for the storms. The Presidents' Day weekend is one of the biggest times of the ski season and we needed the snow."

Boreal spokesman Marc Jensen said Tahoe resort operators are relieved that winter has finally arrived.

"This is what we've all needed," he said. "We just hope it stays a little longer."

National Weather Service forecaster Jon Corey said the storm brought the water content of Tahoe's snowpack up to 50 percent of average for the season.

"Unfortunately, it was a fairly cool storm so the snow was drier. But anything helps," he said.

The storm hit the region early Friday afternoon and continued much of Saturday. The new storm was expected to reach Tahoe by early Sunday.

Other systems should bring a chance of snow to the region Monday and Tuesday, according to the weather service.