It’s a winter wonderland

Ed Koch and Christina Littlefield

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003 | 11:26 a.m.

Twelve-year-old Kevin Luangrath awoke at 7 a.m. today when his 10-year-old brother shoved a handful of snow in his face.

Minutes later, the two boys were throwing snow balls at each other on Apple Valley Lane near Jones Boulevard and Washington Avenue in Las Vegas. Although the snow was already melting, the brothers were able to roll up enough of it to build a snowman before tearing it apart and throwing pieces of Frosty at each other.

"I am going to save some in the freezer and take it to my grandma's house," said Luangrath, who was wearing only one glove because he couldn't find the other. He said the half-inch of snow on the street was "cool," and "fun, but cold."

Many Southern Nevada residents awoke to snow-covered grounds and automobiles. The snow accumulated because the temperature hovered at 32 degrees as low as 2,180 feet elevation -- the valley's floor, National Weather Service meteorologist Steve Downs said.

It was the first measurable snowfall in the Las Vegas Valley since Dec. 6, 1998, Downs said.

The Weather Service had issued a rare snow advisory for the Las Vegas Valley this morning that was canceled by 6 a.m. as the snowfall decreased significantly, Downs said.

The Weather Service said that unofficial snow readings ranged from 1 to 4 inches in some parts of the valley. Other reports said there were accumulations of up to 6 inches in some areas.

Although snow fell at McCarran International Airport, no flights were delayed, airport spokesman Glenn Gardner said.

"So far nothing is really sticking on the runways," Gardner said. "A few ground vehicles have had some ice on them, but the roads are just wet and the runways are just wet."

Most of the valley got its precipitation in the form of rain. By late morning, as the day warmed up slightly, the only precipitation was rain, and that was expected to rapidly wash away any snow lingering on the ground around the valley, weather officials said.

The Weather Service warned that the rain will create slushy and icy conditions on many surface streets and highways into the night.

There were no major accidents because of the weather, Metro, Henderson and North Las Vegas police said this morning.

While the snow accumulations were expected to be shortlived in the valley, the unusual condition caught the attention of residents and businesses on Mount Charleston, which during the same storm received hardly more snowfall than the valley.

"We only got about 4 inches -- I guess they sent all of the snow to Las Vegas," Ben Cooper, manager of the Mount Charleston Lodge, said this morning. "Right now it's doing nothing outside. It's clear and about 19 degrees."

The 4 inches of fresh snow in the Mount Charleston area added to a 10-inch base. The resort has seen good business this week.

"We've been slammed -- lines out the door from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day," Cooper said. "Most are coming in for lunch or just to look at the snow."

He noted that the lodge's cabins are booked for New Year's Day and through the weekend.

But getting to the Lodge today was no easy task.

"The people who do our maintenance up here called in from North Las Vegas at 3 a.m. and said they expected to arrive on time at 5 a.m., but they are just getting here right now," Cooper said at 7:40 a.m.

The Nevada Department of Transportation says because of snow and icy conditions on State Routes 156, 157 and 158 in the higher elevations of Mount Charleston, chains and snow tires or four-wheel drive are required.

High winds Monday night in the mountains forced Mercy Air Ambulance to change the rendezvous point on one patient pickup, Dan Miller, regional aviation manager, said. Mount Charleston ambulance workers brought the patient down to the bottom of the mountain.

"We have some problems flying in the gusty winds in the mountains, especially at night," Miller said.

"Weather constantly affects our capabilities," Miller said, noting that's particularly true over the mountain passes. "We have to either change the location of patient pickup, change the destination of the patient, or change the route between the two points."

The storm, which figures to be the last precipitation of the year, came in from the Pacific Coast, dropping 0.14 of an inch by early this morning, with at least another 0.11 expected before noon, Downs said.

Today's rainfall brought the year-to-date precipitation to 6.75 inches, which is 2.3 inches above normal.

Today's high was expected to be around 50 degrees, about 6 degrees below normal for this time of year, Downs said.

A 30 percent chance of showers under mostly cloudy skies and amid northeast winds of 10 mph were expected throughout the day. Mostly cloudy skies, lows in the mid-30s and winds out of the north at 10 mph were expected tonight, the Weather Service said.

Partly cloudy skies with highs in the mid-50s are projected for both Wednesday and New Year's Day. Revelers Wednesday night can expect partly cloudy skies, lows in the upper 30s and a southwest wind of about 10 mph, the Weather Service said.

On New Year's Day southwest winds are expected to increase to 15 mph in the afternoon, and a 20 percent chance of rain is projected with lows in the lower 40s, the Weather Service said.

Partly cloudy skies are projected for Friday and through the weekend, with highs in the lower to mid-50s and lows in the upper 30s. There is a 10 percent chance of showers Friday but no rain predicted for the weekend, the Weather Service said.