Blustery storm ushers in November

A dusting of snow greeted residents of Carson Valley as the Sierra showed off its new white coat on Wednesday morning.

While there has been snow already this fall, Tuesday’s storm rushed in on near 60 mph winds and dropped wet heavy snow at times along the Foothills.

Kingsbury Grade had to be closed during the evening commute on Tuesday as motorists spun out or were stuck in traffic.

At least one semi, a panel truck and a school bus were among the vehicles to get stuck on the Grade as deputies and troopers with the Nevada Highway Patrol tried to get the road clear so a plow could make a pass.

Silver State Towing’s heavy rig truck was also trying to get up the Grade to help unstuck vehicles that were caught in the snowstorm.

As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, nvroads.com indicated that chains are required for all vehicles except four-wheel driver with snow tires on Kingsbury, Spooner, Highway 88 over Carson Pass and Highway 89 from South Lake Tahoe to the Alpine County line.

Chains or snow tires are being required on Highway 395 from Buckeye Road in Minden south to the state line.

Ebbetts, Monitor, Sonoma and Tioga passes were all closed by Tuesday in anticipation of the storm.

A peak wind gust of 75 mph was recorded at Heavenly, according to the National Weather Service in Reno, while a gauge at the Fish Springs Fire House recorded a 59 mph gust at 3:50 p.m. Another gauge located on Highway 88 between Mottsville and Centerville recorded a 52 mph gust at 3 p.m.

The wind opened doors of Gardnerville businesses as it blasted across the Valley.

A gauge in Genoa record .35 inches of rain as of Wednesday morning. Fredericksburg resident Jeff Garvin reported .24 inches, but lighter winds gusting to around 30 mph.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. today for the Greater Lake Tahoe area, including Stateline, and for Mono County.

Tahoe could see an additional 1-3 inches of snow, with 3-6 inches above 7,000 feet.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the west slope.