Heavy snow, strong winds slam Lake Tahoe mountains

A Sierra storm packing heavy snow and winds gusting up to 116 mph (186 kph) prompted an avalanche warning on Thursday in the mountains above Lake Tahoe, halted interstate traffic and closed schools and state offices in Nevada.

Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the early closure of state government offices at 3:30 p.m. (2330 GMT) in Carson City, Reno-Sparks and three neighboring counties. The storm was expected to bring up to 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow to the crest of the Sierra by Friday morning.

More than a 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of Interstate 80 west of the California-Nevada line was closed to truck traffic because of poor traction and numerous spin outs. Chains were required on all but four-wheel drive vehicles with chains. There were no immediate reports of any serious injuries.

Wind gusts in excess of 100 mph (160 kph) were reported on Thursday at ski resorts on Lake Tahoe's west shore, including 116 mph (186 kph) at the summit of the Alpine Meadows ski resort, the National Weather Service said.

The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee, California, issued an avalanche warning for the back-country for most of the central Sierra, including the Tahoe area stretching from the Yuba pass on Highway 49 in the north to Ebbetts pass on Highway 4 to the south.

A winter storm warning was scheduled to expire at 10 p.m. Thursday at Tahoe (0600 GMT Friday). The National Weather Service said the strong winds were expected to decrease through the evening as more precipitation moves in from the west and the strong cold front moves east.

Up to 8 inches (20 centimeters) of snow was possible at lake level, with as much as a foot (30 cm) possible overnight above elevations of 7,000 feet (2,133 meters), the weather service said.

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