Lake Tahoe

Rain and wind is expected to change to snow this morning for the Carson City region, according to the National Weather Service and Carsonweather.com.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 4 this afternoon for Carson City, Carson Valley and Reno. A winter storm warning continues at Lake Tahoe.

A cold weather system that has moved into the region may make this morning's commute difficult in the valley and in the Sierra, according to the Reno-based weather service.

There's plenty going on out there for snowshoe fans around Lake Tahoe. I've enjoyed the sport but haven't tried the big foot stuff of late. Here's what's snowshoeing these days:

— Go with Tony Berendsen at Northstar-at-Tahoe at 5 p.m. Dec. 30 at Northstar. Tony is a poet and astronomer and offers Star Gazing Snowshoe tours. Price is $50 for adults, $30 for those12 and under with 10 the minimum age. Snowshoe rentals are $5. Call Norhstar at (530) 562-3270 or go online to www.northstarattahoe.com. Tell them Sam sent you.

Here's the latest regarding the helicopter incident over Lake Tahoe earlier this year and the youtube video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYExH8hpgXI

A white day-after Christmas may be in store as another cold-air storm system is expected to move into the Carson City region, according to the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com.

Low pressure from the Gulf of Alaska will move into the Western Nevada region by this weekend bringing periods of snow and gusty winds, especially on Christmas night into Sunday, according to the weather service.

Rain has turned to snow tonight as a strong winter storm continues to bring a mix of precipitation to the Carson City area and heavy snow at Lake Tahoe.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Monday morning for the Carson City region, while a winter storm warning continues at Lake Tahoe until 4 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Carson City and Carson Valley regions can expect about 2 to 4 inches of snow overnight, while Tahoe is expected to receive several more feet, especially in areas above 7,000 feet.

Earlier Sunday wind and rain caused a number of problems, including downed trees and minor flooding.

At 4:25 p.m., a large tree crashed into two vehicles on Nelson Lane near Bunch Way in Carson City. Tree limbs are reportedly also resting on homes, according to police dispatch. Meanwhile high winds that whipped through the area earlier this afternoon brought down another large tree in the area of Sherman Lane.

Water ponding has been reported throughout town, both the east and west sides, and around Highway 50 near the old Scolari's. Roof leaks have even been reported at the Carson City Sheriff's Office at 911 Musser Street.

Back-to-back weather systems moving into the Carson City area today has prompted the National Weather Service in Reno to issue a winter weather advisory through 3 a.m. Monday morning.

UPDATE 4 p.m.: Mount Rose Highway continues to remain closed because of weather conditions. And there is a wind advisory for the Carson City region. Go to Carsonweather.com for the latest.

As a part of an ongoing initiative to support area non-profits, the Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority donated $20,000 among four charities, Friday, Dec. 3 at Lakeside Inn & Casino.

Christmas Cheer received $10,000; Tahoe Youth and Family Services $5,000; South Lake Tahoe Women’s Center $3,000 and the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe $2,000.

Carson City authorities made three separate methamphetamine-related arrests earlier this week.

A 57-year-old South Lake Tahoe man faces a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine after being stopped on Wednesday at the corner of Carson Street and Hot Springs Road.

Officers spotted a Ford Ranger not driving in the travel lane and not having a red tail light. The driver, identified as Frederick Allan Russo, was stopped. Officers detected a smell of marijuana from his car and officers asked permission to search the vehicle and Russo agreed, according to the arrest report.

A strong winter storm will push into the Carson City and Lake Tahoe region today bringing rain to the valley and several feet of snow to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra though at least Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board has agreed to appeal to the 9th Circuit District Court a September federal district court ruling that struck down updated ordinances for the shorezone of Lake Tahoe, according to its website.

On Friday, Dec. 17th Fox and Hound will host Moment Skis and Life More Natural for the premiere of Level 1’s Eye Trip, a worldwide documentation of ski action as you’ve never seen it presented before. Skiing’s counterculture continues to buck the trends of what’s come before them. In addition, the night serves as a benefit for LMN’s Tahoe to Tanzania solar project for Reno/Tahoe youth. Time to get hyped for the season in South Lake Tahoe!

The Reno-Tahoe-Truckee community has six opportunities this December to enjoy TOCCATA’s wonderful tradition of producing selections from "Handel's Messiah" in a Holiday Concert, including a performance in Carson City on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
The Carson City performance will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Carson City Community Center. The Carson City concert features the 60-voice Carson High School Concert Choir, alumni and Carson soloists, and will be a benefit for the high school choir’s future tour presentations.

Other performances are:

A Lake Tahoe area public-private energy organization and the U.S. Energy Department have teamed up to make renewable energy more commercially available.

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Incline Village-based Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization today announced their collaboration to accelerate the commercialization of a clean technology innovation owned and developed by the Laboratory.

Expect several days of rain in Carson City and snow in the Sierra through at least Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com.

Low pressure in the northeast Pacific will direct the jet stream and bring abundant moisture into the Sierra and Western Nevada region including Carson City. The pattern is forecast to remain through the week and possibly into next week and is a favorable set-up for heavy precipitation and strong winds across the region, according to a weather service statement.

The Red Hut in South Lake Tahoe will host a Burger Night fundraiser to benefit the Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation.

A federal judge on Monday reaffirmed his September ruling overturning a plan to add thousands of new boat facilities on the lake.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency had requested the judge amend his ruling. The TRPA’s motion was not an appeal. The agency will have another 30 days to appeal the judge’s September ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

A book signing by former Nevada Appeal and Tahoe Daily Tribune sports reporter Jeremy Evans will be on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Borders Books in Carson City. Evans is the author of the new book "In Search of Powder: A Story of America's Disappearing Ski Bum."

Squaw Valley USA will have a new owner after a Denver-based equity firm bought virtually all of its shares.

KSL Capital Partners LLC of Denver, which owns stakes in resort-related businesses, announced Tuesday that it hopes to complete the sale by the end of the year and that it will put $50 million into the exclusive Lake Tahoe area resort, home of the 1960 Olympic Winter Games.

Squaw was opened in 1949 by the late Alexander Cushing. It has about 4,000 acres and 2,850 vertical feet that spans over six peaks.

Most area highways have snow tire or chains required this morning, with chains/4WD required for the mountain passes west of Lake Tahoe.

Carson City schools are all open today on time. Sorry, kids, no snow day!

U.S. Highway 50 from east of Dayton to South Lake Tahoe, and U.S. Highway 395 from Bridgeport to Reno have chains or snow tires required. SR 341 to Virginia City and Mount Rose Highway are also chains or snow tires required.

One man has been arrested and around two pounds of methamphetamine was seized on Thursday in Stateline on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Douglas County Sheriff's Office officials report.

A multi-agency drug trafficking investigation culminated in the arrest of 45-year old Francisco Sandoval-Estrada, after a drug sting operation.

Investigators from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Street Enforcement Team (DCSET), Western El Dorado Narcotic Enforcement Team (WENET) and the All Threats/All Crimes Unit (ATAC) from Reno conducted the investigation.

There's been a lot of hype to this upcoming winter storm that will begin its reaches through the Carson City region later today and tonight with anticipated gusty winds and rain turning to snow.

But with trust in the weather folks at the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com, this storm could well be the real deal. In fact a winter storm warning goes into effect at 10 tonight and will last through 10 a.m. Sunday for the Carson City region.

A handful of Lake Tahoe ski resorts prepare to open for the season this weekend thanks to an early snowfall, snowmaking guns and a fairly large storm set to punch the Sierra.

Around a foot or more of natural snow across the Sierra earlier this month certainly helped get things moving. With this weekend's anticipated storm, which may bring anywhere from 2-4 feet of snow to the Sierra, resorts should get a nice healthy boost just in time for the holiday season.

Here's what we know:

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will host the 22nd annual Ski and Snowboard Swap at Lake Tahoe's MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20.

Proceeds will benefit the Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides Lake Tahoe ski and snowboard programs for regional youth, local middle school students, and the S.O.S. program.

Skiers and boarders know when it comes to predicting snow at Lake Tahoe, a wing, a party and a prayer never hurts.

Prepare yourself for a snow dance at the alter as the annual “Pray for Snow” party will happen on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Fresh Ketch Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe. There will be live music, dancing, beverages and an avalanche of prizes.

Nineteen South Lake Tahoe area non-profit organizations got an early holiday surprise Thursday when more than $100,000 was delivered by LIVESTRONG and the American Century Championship.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority board of directors announced the distribution of $102,377 in contributions on Thursday, Nov. 11.

I was going through old notes this morning, and found some scribbling I'd done about the old vacant Kmart on North Carson Street, sitting next to a printout of the Meridian Report on the feasibility of the state office portion of the Nugget Project.

It was like one of those old commercials for Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, where the chocolate and the peanut butter collide to make something pretty cool.

The area that includes Carson City and Carson Valley posted a 10.8 percent increase in gaming revenue in September over prior year, the best of any region of the state for that month.

The Carson area was the only real bright spot in northern Nevada, with South Lake Tahoe revenues declining 8.28 percent, while Washoe County was down 5.31 percent, and Elko down 4.31 percent.

Statewide gaming revenues increased .73 percent in September over prior year. Three months into the fiscal year, statewide revenues are up 2.33 percent.

Full report is attached below.

La Nina made its first appearance of the year at Lake Tahoe, blanketing Heavenly Mountain Resort with eight to 12 inches of new snow and more on the way.

Cold weather and scattered snow showers are predicted this week, providing ideal conditions for the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system to create the best snow surfaces at Lake Tahoe for Heavenly’s opening day, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 19, weather and conditions permitting.

The warm temperatures and nice fall weather we've enjoyed over the past week may come to an end later this weekend. A storm is brewing in the Pacific and may reach Western Nevada and the Sierra by late Sunday.

The cold front is expected to develop in the region by Sunday afternoon, with rain and gusty winds expected in Carson City and the Carson Valley with snow levels dropping to around 7,000 feet in the Lake Tahoe Basin, according to the National Weather Service in Reno and carsonweather.com.

The following obituary was submitted by Jeff Cowen, community liaison for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on the passing of spokesman Dennis Oliver:

DENNIS J. OLIVER
May 20, 1963 - November 3, 2010

Dennis Oliver, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's public information officer, has died after a brain illness. He was 47.

Oliver was admitted to the hospital about three weeks ago, according to TRPA External Affairs Director Julie Regan. He died overnight Wednesday at Carson Tahoe Hospital of an apparent brain virus which attacks the meylin around the nerve cells, said friend Michael Carr.

"TRPA is deeply saddened to share the news with the community of the loss of Dennis Oliver, who was an extremely valued employee of the Agency over the last three and a half years," said TRPA Executive Director Joanne Marchetta. Click here to read the obituary.