A Douglas County snowplow clears Jacks Valley Road on Tuesday afternoon after 6 inches of snow falls in Nevada's oldest settlement.
Photo by Kurt Hildebrand.
Update:
As of 7:30 a.m., Highway 395 is open to passenger vehicles with chain controls after being closed overnight, according to the California Department of Transportation.
The highway closed Tuesday evening through most of Mono County due to heavy snowfall and whiteout conditions.
Semi-trucks and big rigs are still restricted from U.S. 395 between the junction of State Route 203 and the Nevada State Line.
Previous story:
Highway 395 is closed through most of Mono County due to heavy snowfall and whiteout conditions.
The highway is closed from the junction of Gorge Road north of Bishop to the junction of State Route 182 in Bridgeport, according to the California Department of Transportation at 7:30 p.m.
The highway is also closed at the Nevada state line to all but local traffic.
The National Weather Service in Reno issued a statement warning motorists of the potential of slick roads as temperatures drop tonight.
"Afternoon temperatures were kept down thanks to abundant cloud cover and periods of snowfall throughout the day," forecasters said. "With the setting of the sun, air temperatures and roadway surface temperatures will continue to fall through the overnight hours. Surfaces that were previously wet may freeze and cause very dangerous driving conditions."
In addition to the Sierra and northeast California, black ice may also form on road surfaces across much of Western Nevada.
"The greatest threat will be to bridges, elevated roads, and secondary and side streets that may have not received pre-treatment," according to the statement. "It is very difficult if not impossible to know if a surface you are driving on is wet or frozen. If you approach an area of black ice, reduce your speed considerably and try to avoid sudden braking or accelerating as this can cause a loss of traction. Leave a lot of space between you and other vehicles."
State offices closed after the Nevada Department of Transportation and the Nevada State Police reported worsening weather conditions, dropping temperatures and potentially dangerous road conditions.
As such, all State executive branch offices closed, effective at 3:30 p.m. today in Carson City, Washoe County, Storey County, Lyon County, and Douglas County. This order does not apply to essential public safety or corrections personnel, nor does it apply to employees whose job duties involve administering elections and/or elections security or support.
Western Nevada College has decided to close its Carson City campus at 4 p.m. today and reopen at 10 a.m. on Wednesday because of inclement weather conditions and safety concerns.
The closure and reopening times will also be followed by the college’s Child Development Center.
College officials decided to close early today because of worsening conditions expected after sundown, allowing students and employees extra travel time home.
The two-hour delay in opening on Wednesday will allow the college’s facilities employees to clear snow and ice from the campus so it will be safe when students, staff and visitors return.
For the latest closure and delay notices for the college, refer to the top of WNC’s homepage at wnc.edu.
A snowstorm arrived in Gardnerville around 9 a.m. Tuesday and dropped 2 inches of snow before lunchtime.
Minden weather watcher Stan Kapler said he received 3 inches by 11 a.m. A mile north of Genoa, 6 inches of snow fell over the court of six hours on Tuesday.
The storm arrived with light snow but conditions quickly worsened prompting the Nevada Department of Transportation to issue chain or snow tire requirements on Highway 395 from Indian Hills to Topaz Lake.
Except for four-wheel drive vehicles with snow tires, chains were required in the mountains around Lake Tahoe.
A winter weather advisory is in effect through 10 a.m. Wednesday.
A school bus with 15 students aboard slid into a parked vehicle at Kahle Community Center above Lake Tahoe around 9 a.m.
A truck blocked one southbound lane of Highway 395 while chaining up at 10 a.m.
