Winter storm pummels Sierra, western Nevada, with heavy snow

RENO, Nev. -- A tenacious winter storm pummeled the Sierra and western Nevada with heavy snow Tuesday, throwing a cold white blanket on visions of spring and bringing morning commuters to a crawl.

More than 2 feet of snow fell at the upper elevations around Lake Tahoe, while residents in the valleys of western Nevada saw accumulations ranging from 3-6 inches.

Chains or snow tires were required across the region early in the day, from Reno east to Fallon, south to Hawthorne and west over the Sierra into California.

By midday, Interstate 80 over Donner Summit was open with no controls. Restrictions remained in effect for all other mountain highways, including U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit.

Snow continued to spit in the Reno-Carson City for much of the day, though there was little additional accumulation.

In Elko County, a 61-year-old woman was being treated for hypothermia after surviving about 5 hours in the snow when her vehicle became stranded on an I-80 frontage road.

Helen Sharp was found around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday by a Nevada Department of Transportation worker plowing snow, the Nevada Highway Patrol said.

Sharp is director of the senior center in Wells. She was on her way home to Starr Valley when her Ford Explorer slid into a snow bank on a frontage road, Trooper Rocky Gonzalez said.

She apparently tried to walk to the interstate but could not cross a chainlink fence. Sharp had lost her shoes and socks in the ordeal and suffered cuts and scratches from trying to get through the fence, authorities said.

Elsewhere, the NHP and other law enforcement agencies responded to scores of spinouts and fender benders, but no major accidents were reported.

The National Weather Service said winter's hold on the region should ease on Wednesday, when stormy skies cede to party cloudy conditions. But winter could return on Thursday as another unstable air mass pushes through.

Not everyone was disheartened by winter's prolonged appearance.

"That's why I live in the mountains," said Rory, who works at the J&L Food Mart in Truckee, Calif. and would not give his last name.

When asked if he's ready for spring, he replied nonchalantly, "Whenever it gets here."

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