Sandy Fitzpatrick got this photo of traffic backed up on Highway 50 headed up toward Spooner Junction at 3:20 p.m.
A lack of enthusiasm on the part of previous storms may have lulled Sierra commuters into a sense of complacency on Friday when nearly 7 inches of snow fell at Daggett Summit at the top of Kingsbury Grade.
Spinouts occurred across the Sierra Nevada, including Highway 50 at Lake Tahoe and over Spooner Summit, and ended up closing Interstate 80 for a time.
Chain controls went into effect 1:30-2 p.m. in Douglas County’s portion of Lake Tahoe.
A winter weather advisory was issued for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday with 1-4 inches forecast at Lake level, with 1-2 inches an hour on the passes.
Accumulations of 4-8 inches anticipated above 7,000 feet were exceeded with 9 inches reported at Heavenly Ski Base, and 12.8 inches of snow reported a mile west of Donner.
Firefighters responded to a collision on Quaking Aspen above Kingsbury that reportedly involved eight vehicles around 3 p.m.
The Nevada Highway Patrol reported a half dozen different collisions between Highway 50 and Kingsbury.
A disabled vehicle was reportedly blocking part of Kingsbury near Daggett Creek around 3 p.m. It wasn’t cleared from nvroads.com until late Saturday morning around when chain controls for Kingsbury were lifted.
Slick conditions likely contributed to two collisions on Spooner Summit on Saturday afternoon.
The Nevada Highway Patrol reported collisions on the Carson City side of Spooner and another at 50 and Golf Club Drive. One instance was a Tacoma containing two adults and a baby at 2:07 P.M. A second crash resulted in property damage. The westbound lanes of the highway were closed for around 20 minutes while the vehicle was cleared.
Chains or four-wheel drive with snow tires were still required on Highway 50 at 3:30 p.m. Saturday between Glenbrook at the Carson City line.
Foothill residents reported 2 inches of snow as a light dusting fell along the base of the Carson Range on Friday afternoon.
The storm came in on blustery winds that clocked 71 mph gusts in the center of the Valley.
A half-inch of rain fell a mile north of Genoa during the storm. With the southern Gardnerville Ranchos and Ruhenstroth recording .47 inches.
