Winter storm moves east, but another is behind it

Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2003 | 6:11 a.m.

A winter storm that slowed commuters across northern Nevada moved east on Tuesday, while a new disturbance was bearing down on the Sierra.

A winter storm watch was posted on Tuesday in the mountains for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Forecasters said snow was likely through Friday.

Chains still were mandatory early Tuesday on both Interstate-80 and U.S. 50 over the Sierra. Those requirements were dropped at midmorning, but chains or snow tires were required elsewhere in the mountains.

To the east, chains or snow tires were needed to drive over the summits on I-80 and U.S. 50 and on both U.S. 93 and U.S. 95 as well as most state routes.

Most of Elko County remained under a winter storm warning into Tuesday afternoon.

The storm even brought rare snow to Las Vegas where flurries fell on the Strip and an inch or two accumulated in the suburbs. Chains or snow tires were required to get to the Lee Canyon ski area and to Mount Charleston.

The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area about 20 miles west of town was closed because of slippery roads.

At Lake Tahoe, Homewood, Calif., resident Doni Glassmaker said the west shore was a mass of white.

"It's a little much," she said on Monday. "Most of the side streets are totally jammed because they haven't got it plowed yet."

The Nevada Highway Patrol closed the Mount Rose Highway south of Reno most of Monday afternoon due to several snow-related accidents after 2 feet of snow fell.

Gusty winds damaged some roofs in the Red Rock area north of Reno, the National Weather Service said. A 72 mph gust was reported in southwest Reno and one of 66 mph at Skyline and McCarran boulevards.

Sierra ski resort operators happily watched the snow pile up Monday during one of their busiest weeks of the season.

Alpine Meadows received up to 33 inches of fresh snow on Monday. Alpine has received more than 10 feet of snowfall at its mid-mountain level this month alone, resort spokeswoman Rachel Woods said.

"By the time this storm ends, we'll be in absolute ski and snowboard heaven," she said.