Storm Brings Snow and Traffic Snarls to Sierra

A spring storm has dumped snow amounts unseen in the Sierra since mid-December, adding to a dismal snowpack but producing a dreadful Palm Sunday commute.

Westbound Interstate 80 traffic was being held at the Nevada-California line at dusk, and chains were mandatory over Donner Summit.

Westbound traffic also was stopped on U.S. 50 at Meyers, Calif., for avalanche control, and chains were required between Meyers and Kyburz.

Chains or snow tires were mandatory on all other Sierra roads. California 89 was closed through the Bliss State Park area.

A wet storm that began at noon Saturday dropped up to 3 feet at the higher elevations of Boreal and Sugar Bowl ski areas.

Kirkwood, Calif., received 18 inches. California 88 there was intermittently open most of the day.

“It’s just a parking lot in both directions. People are crashing and spinning,” said California Highway Patrol Officer P. Gonzales at the truck weigh scales off Interstate 80 at the Truckee exit.

Just before sunset, the highway was fairly clear at the agricultural inspection station near Truckee, inspector Brad Stewart said, but traffic was at a virtual standstill.

“They’re chaining up four miles past here, or maybe they’re clearing accidents or taking their time sending cars through one at a time,” he said.

The snow had stopped there, he said, and skies were fairly clear.

Around Lake Tahoe, about 800 feet below Donner Summit, South Lake Tahoe, Calif., received 15 inches of snow. On the north shore, Incline Village picked up 18 inches.

In the valleys of western Nevada, the storm produced nearly half an inch of precipitation, mostly as rain or rain mixed with snow, although 4 inches of snow fell at the Stead Fire Department.

A National Weather Service employee reported 5 inches at 5,360 feet in the Reno foothills.

The forecast called for continued unsettled weather with snow showers producing another 1 to 3 inches in the Sierra on Monday and a chance of rain or snow in the western valleys.