Snow

After weeks of unseasonably warm weather in Carson City, Carson Valley and the Sierra, snow is back in the forecast, expected to arrive Saturday night and last through Sunday.

A winter weather advisory has been issued for the region, with several inches of snow expected for the Sierra and a dusting down around the valley floors, according to the National Weather Service and CarsonWeather.com.

Lake Tahoe has been ranked the No. 1 ski destination for the year by Rand McNally, the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority announced Monday.

The ranking is based on travel bookings to the destination when compared to other winter locations throughout the United States and Canada. It is the latest recognition given to the region by the nation's top travel writers and publications, according to the LTVA announcement.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort at Lake Tahoe's Incline Village will host its second annual Ullr Fest beginning Friday and lasting through the entire weekend.

Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe is on top of safety on the slopes under the management headed by Pete Sonntag. An the new lodge up at the top of the Gondola is doing fine. We'll have complete report on the new million-dollar refuge this week. Here's the latest from Heavenly:

Heavenly Mountain Resort and the National Ski Areas Association are reminding skiers and snowboarders that they play a critical role in slope safety during National Safety Awareness Week, January 15 – 23, 2011.

Looks like Spring is trying to make an early appearance this year. Of course I’m not fooled. We’ll get cold and snowy again, probably before the month is out. But the weather this weekend has kind of been a taste of what we’ll be in store for in a few months. It sure did the job of cleaning up the last of the remaining snow quickly. We’ve had huge snow patches all over town that have been in place since our last big snowstorm, weeks ago. Now they’re all gone, in a matter of just a couple of days.

January is always the doldrums of winter. This is when we get the coldest temperatures and the stillest air, when the snow falls and doesn’t melt, when everything is at its dirtiest and ugliest. It’s also usually the only time of the year that we get any appreciable amount of fog, and fog and cold temperatures add up to pogonip!

Read the rest at http://aroundcarson.com

More snow is expected for the Carson City region through Sunday night, the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com reports.

A chance of snow showers with accumulations of up to 2 inches in Carson City and 3 to 6 inches in Lyon and Douglas counties is anticipated in this cold weather storm system. About 6 inches of snow fell in Carson City on Saturday morning.

A fast-moving weather system may produce snow showers early this morning in the Carson City and Carson Valley regions, according to the National Weather Service and Carsonweather.com.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday. The heaviest snowfall may happen between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. with accumulations of 1 to 3 inches with higher amounts in the foothills and Sierra. Because of frigid temperatures, the storm is expected to produce snow on all the valley floors.

With all the recent snow, it seems that Diamond Peak Ski Team's community-based homage to the Norse ski-god Ullr (pronounced Oool-er) is paying off. We've seen nothing but snow since the first annual Ullr Fest took place last winter. Ullr must be happy!

Carson City streets seem to be OK so far, but falling temperatures threaten to make them icy as the night progresses.

Up to a foot of snow has fallen in the Sierra today, with chains mandatory on I-80 over Donner Summit from the Nevada-California line to Nyack, and U.S. 50 over Echo Summit. Chains or snow tires are required over Spooner Summit and Kingsbury Grade. Highway 88 is closed west of Kirkwood for avalanche control.

For more road info, go to http://www.nvroads.com .

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.

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.

A Carson City man who told officers he drank three 24-ounce cans of beer faces a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence after he pulled his car into a driveway and then backed into a patrol car.

According to the arrest report, officers spotted the man early Monday afternoon driving his vehicle about 10 miles over the 25 mph posted speed limit south on Northgate Lane. The arresting officer attempted to pull the man over, but he kept driving until he got to Dyer Court where he pulled into a driveway.

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.

Carson City fire personnel are investigating heavy water damage this afternoon at Carson Middle School.
An initial fire alarm call from the school, located at 1440 King Street, came into city dispatch around noon.
Significant water damage, roof leaks and some flooding is being reported after a subsequent review of at least one of the classrooms and the main hallway, said Bob Charles, battalion chief for the Carson City Fire Department.

First it was the snow, next the melt-off and now the wind.
A high wind warning remains in effect today through the Carson City, Carson Valley and Lyon County regions until 4 this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Reno and Carsonweather.com.
Winds will continue to increase through this morning with the strongest from mid-morning through early this afternoon. The highest wind gust reported so far of the system was 48 mph at 10:53 a.m., according to carsonweather.com.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers have been busy today responding to four dozen motor vehicle crashes on area roads and highways.

Some 47 accidents were reported between 6 a.m. and noon today throughout the Northern Nevada region, said Trooper Chuck Allen.

The accidents happened as a result of falling snow, slippery roadways and motorists traveling too fast for the roadway conditions, Allen said in a press statement. There were also dozens of spin-outs and slide-offs on many highways as well. Click here for the last road controls in Nevada and in the Sierra and carsonweather.com for the latest weather alerts.

Spin-outs, fender-benders and icy streets have kept Carson City law officers, fire and rescue and city road crews busy today as the first wave of a wet winter storm has arrived.

The most recent accident tonight appears to be the most serious. It was reported at 8:10 p.m. and involves three vehicles that were in an apparent head-on collision in the area of Dump Hill in Carson City. Fire and rescue crews, paramedics, the Nevada Highway Patrol and Carson City sheriff's deputies have responded.

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.

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.

Winter is the time of year that seems to go on forever. Shorter daylight hours, cold temperatures and house-bound kids. And if you do go outside you wear so many clothes your knees won't bend.
What type of exercise would tempt you to brave the cold --- Sledding! Remember when you were young and fresh snow was an exciting part of your day? I’ll bet as you aged you lost sight of all that fun. Just imagine the calories you can burn when you force yourself to have fun with a sled!

When I was at the Nugget Advisory Committee meeting last week, a PR person working for P3 Development and the Carson Nugget handed me a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the project.

One thing a complex project like this could really use is an FAQ list. Of course, this list came from those developing the project, so a little spin was to be expected. But I was surprised at how much spin there was.

"Love & Other Drugs" is a sort of romantic comedy involving a drug salesman, Jamie (Jake Gyllenhaal) and an artist Maggie (Anne Hathaway) who is suffering from Parkinson's disease. It recalls that tear-jerker of yore, "Love Story," but doesn't go all the way. No cure but the couple walk off into the snow and to his Porsche Carrera rag top.

Motorists should take extra precaution tonight as rain and snow showers earlier today in Carson City have turned to ice with numerous accidents around town. As of 10 p.m. no major injuries were reported as a result of the accidents, according to dispatchers.

According to Carsonweather.com and the National Weather Service an advisory has been issued that warns of poor driving conditions and slick roads because of the freezing rain and snow.

Tahoe is off to its best opening for snowsports in years with most resorts operating on a limited basis, but many offering top to bottom runs. Snow is good, not fluffy but not wet so it's like powder days at many mountain resorts.

A quick blast of unstable weather will likely affect the Carson City region by Saturday, the National Weather Service and Carsonweather.com reports.

The system is expected to move south tomorrow and reach the Sierra and Northwest Nevada sometime Saturday morning. Some snow could fall on the valley floors, with up to six inches at lake level and a foot above 7,000 feet.

The Nevada Highway Patrol remains busy today attending to a number of weather-related accidents between Carson City and Reno, Trooper Chuck Allen reports.

With a winter storm warning in effect until 4 p.m. today followed by a blast of cold weather through Wednesday, conditions on Northern Nevada roads remain icy and will likely continue that way through the holiday travel period.

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.

Highway 395 through Washoe Valley has been re-opened, said Scott Magruder, spokesman for the Nevada Department of Transportation.

High winds and a few accidents had closed off portions of the highway and traffic was being re-routed through East Lake Drive earlier this morning.

Vehicles and campers are not advised to go through but are not prohibited. Chains and snow tires are required.

"It's calmed a little bit and not as bad as it was," Magruder said.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Carson City region through 4 p.m. today. Go to carsonweather.com for the very latest.