Snow blankets Sierra, coats northern Nevada roads

Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2005 | 4:14 a.m.

Ski resorts got what they needed while motorists got what they could do without after the first decent storm of fall coated the slopes in the Sierra and the highways there and across northern Nevada.

Both Interstate 80 over Donner Summit and U.S. 50 over Echo Summit were open with no controls early Tuesday, 24 hours before they were all but shut down by slick roads and blinding snow that sent motorists skidding off the roads and into each other.

"We got dozens and dozens," said California Highway Patrol Officer Kirk Bromell.

No serious injuries were reported on either side of the state line.

Chains or snow tires remained the order of the day on most Sierra highways early Tuesday as well as I-80 and Highway 50 from the Fernley and Silver Springs areas east to Elko and Ely.

"This is the start of winter," said National Weather Service meteorologist Rhett Milne in Reno. "This is the first pulse of what will continue over the week. The ski areas are going to be loving it."

As the storm moved east, heavy snow warnings went into effect from Humboldt County to Elko County while warmer temperatures produced rain and some melting in the Sierra.

"We went from no weather to very active weather very quickly," Kevin Baker, meteorologist in charge of the Elko weather service office said. "It looks like we are going to stay active for a little while, at least through this week."

In the Sierra, Boreal, the first resort to open, offered one lift again on Tuesday.

Northstar-at-Tahoe and Heavenly Mountain Resort said they would open on Wednesday. Kirkwood will start the lifts on Thursday and Alpine Meadows will open on Friday, followed by Squaw Valley on Saturday.

"The wait is over. These recent storms, combined with our phenomenal snowmaking team, have made it possible for us to be the first resort in Tahoe to offer quality winter conditions for skiing and riding," said Blaise Carrig, Heavenly's chief operating officer.