Storm drops up to 2 and a half feet of snow, causes more traffic headaches

RENO, Nev. - The latest in a series of powerful weekend storms dumped up to 2 1/2 feet of snow in the Lake Tahoe area and caused more major delays for Sierra travelers.

The California Highway Patrol said U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit, southwest of Lake Tahoe, was closed most of Saturday night and Sunday morning for avalanche control activities.

Tourists jammed the highway after it reopened early Sunday afternoon, causing a backup of westbound traffic for about 10 miles from Meyers, Calif., to South Lake Tahoe, Calif.

The CHP reported another major jam - of several miles - for westbound traffic on Interstate 80 in Truckee, Calif. Motorists heading over Donner Summit faced delays of up to two hours.

"It's bumper to bumper out there, a real zoo," said Sara Olson of J&L Food Mart in Truckee. "If you live here, you have to love snow. But even locals are getting sick of all the snow."

Chains or snow tires were required Sunday on most highways in the Tahoe area.

In California, avalanche control activities also shut down Highway 88 over the Carson Spur west of Kirkwood for most of Sunday. The highway remained open over Carson Pass with mandatory chain controls.

In Nevada, westbound I-80 truck rigs were being held at Verdi west of Reno until congestion in the Truckee area cleared.

No major accidents were reported.

The storm left from 1 to 2 1/2 feet of new snow in the region, ensuring a fifth straight above-average winter snowpack and another long season for Tahoe ski resorts.

Alpine Meadows north of Lake Tahoe, which reported up to 31 inches of new snow, plans to stay open at least through Memorial Day.

"We could stay open until past then with all the snow, but it has a lot to do with interest," said resort spokeswoman Rachael Woods. "It's been one of our better seasons and a big reason for it is all the snow."

National Weather Service forecaster Jim Fischer had welcome news for Tahoe residents weary of all the snow: No major snowfall was expected this week.

"It looks like we're coming into a bit of a fair weather pattern," he said.

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