Storm brings snow, chain controls to Lake Tahoe area

The National Weather Service issued a snow advisory for the region, calling for as much as 8 inches of snow to fall by Sunday morning above 7,000 feet.

"It's a reminder that the season is changing and people need to get their winter skills in order," said agency forecaster Beth McNulty.

Chains or snow tires were required Saturday afternoon on Interstate 80 over Donner Summit and U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit, but the controls were lifted later in the day.

Similar restrictions remained in effect throughout the day on Nevada Route 431 over the Mount Rose Summit near Reno, Nev.

The controls on I-80 and U.S. 50 went up after several accidents and spinouts, said California Highway Patrol dispatcher Gina Moran.

"I just think people weren't prepared for winter driving conditions," Moran said.

More than 200 skiers braved the storm to hit the slopes at the Heavenly Ski Resort, the only resort open on the West Coast.

The South Lake Tahoe resort opened Oct. 18 with at least a 6-inch base of machine-made snow for its earliest opening ever.

The resort reported 2 inches of new snow above 7,500 feet by mid-Saturday afternoon.

"This is the first significant snowfall of the season and everyone has been ecstatic," Heavenly spokeswoman Monica Bandows said. "It gets everybody thinking about winter and skiing."

Colder temperatures will allow Heavenly and other Tahoe resorts to crank up their snow-making machines even more this week.

"We have one trail open right now and maybe we can open another couple of runs in the next week or so," Bandows said.

The Loveland Basin ski area near Silver Plume, Colo., is the only other ski resort open in the West.

Tahoe resorts traditionally swing into full operation sometime after Thanksgiving Day.

archive