Another strong wave sweeps toward Sierra, Nevada

Another powerful Pacific disturbance brought traffic to a halt today in the Sierra and forecasters said the storm's full fury was still to come.

A winter storm warning was in effect through this evening in the mountains, where up to two feet of new snow could fall by tonight. But the big player in this storm is the wind, which is expected to gust to 40 mph with peaks to 80 mph over the ridges, creating blizzard-like conditions at times.

Chains were mandatory over Donner Summit and on U.S. 50, where traffic was held from time to time at Echo Summit for avalanche control. The same was true at the Mount Rose summit.

All other Sierra roads required chains or snow tires.

Incline Village schools were closed today.

Western Nevada was under a high wind warning for gusts to 40 mph peaking at 60 mph in wind-prone areas. Rain today was expected to turn to snow by late afternoon before tapering off to scattered showers.

An earlier disturbance snarled traffic Tuesday and left 20 inches of snow on Echo Summit and 24 inches in Truckee, where it accumulated at a rate of an inch an hour Tuesday evening.

A brief respite was expected on Thursday, followed by yet another storm surge in time for the weekend.

After more than a month without snow, this week's storms were causing problems off the roads as well.

An avalanche warning is in effect along the Sierra crest and the avalanche danger is high, with snow slides being reported.

One buried a Caltrans truck early Tuesday on California 89 in the steep Emerald Bay area. The driver was not injured and the highway now is closed.

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