Storm dumps up to foot of snow at Tahoe, causes traffic delays

RENO, Nev. - Another storm dumped up to a foot of snow Sunday on the Lake Tahoe area, providing a further boost to the region's snowpack but causing traffic delays.

Chains or snow tires were required on all three major trans-Sierra highways: Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, U.S. Highway 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass.

No major accidents were reported, but there was bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-80's westbound lanes in the Truckee, Calif., area.

Westbound truck rigs on I-80 were being held 10 miles west of Reno to avoid adding to the congestion.

"It's been dumping today," Boreal ski resort spokeswoman Carrie Roberts said late Sunday afternoon. "The snow started at 8 this morning and hasn't stopped. It looks like a winter wonderland."

Only two weeks ago, the Tahoe snowpack stood at only 20 percent of normal for the season. On Sunday, it was closer to 50 percent.

The snowpack was expected to continue heading up because forecasters were calling for a chance of snow every day through Wednesday.

"It's good news for water prospects," said Terry Ryan of the National Weather Service. "It doesn't take long for the snowpack to go back to normal when you have pretty good snow like we've been having lately."

While the storm brought snow to higher elevations, it brought rain to towns around Tahoe, he said.

Tahoe ski resort operators are welcoming the recent storms after a slow start to the season because of below-average snows.

"We had a great weekend," Boreal's Roberts said. "Our parking lot was full and there were lots of smiles out there.

"I think the fresh snow gets everyone jazzed about the winter. The storm doors are definitely open."

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