Bitter cold grips state

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Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2002 | 5:44 a.m.

Nevada is in the grip of bitter cold. Even Las Vegas was just above freezing early Wednesday with a reading of 34 degrees at the airport.

But for cold, Ely plunged to minus 23 early Wednesday and Elko to 18 below. The mercury hit minus 27 at Spring Creek High School and forecasters said remote data showed some valleys at 40 below.

Eureka, which set a record for Jan. 29 at minus 18, eclipsed that on Wednesday with 25 below. Ely's low Wednesday also was a record for the date.

Reno chilled to 4 above just before daybreak. It was plus 2 in Winnemucca, 5 above in Lovelock and 6 above in Tonopah.

In the Sierra, South Lake Tahoe fell to minus 11 and Truckee, to 16 below.

Forecasters said Thursday would be nearly as cold before a gradual moderating trend begins toward the end of the week and into the weekend.

Meanwhile, nowhere north of Tonopah was likely to see readings above freezing before tomorrow at the earliest. In the eastern part of the state, highs in the 30s aren't likely until the weekend.