As Northern Nevada continues to dig out of the last snowstorm, forecasters are seeing another wave or two on the horizon.
Heavy snow is expected for the Reno-Sparks-Carson City area on Thursday afternoon, with 3 to 6 inches of accumulation possible. Temperatures aren’t expected to rise above the low 30s until Friday.
For Lake Tahoe, Thursday’s storm is expected to add 6 to 12 inches of snow, with 8 to 14 inches expected above 7,000 feet.
Northwestern Nevada campuses remain closed Wednesday due to hazardous travel conditions. Here’s what we know.
Traffic is being held eastbound on Interstate 80 about 3.4 miles east of Gold Run in Placer County because of multiple spinouts, according to Caltrans.
Chains are required in both directions between Colfax and the Nevada state line. All vehicles must carry chains except four-wheel-drive vehicles with snow tires on all four wheels.
Westbound traffic for tractor-trailers is closed at the Nevada state line due to snow and traction concerns. Eastbound trucks are being screened at Applegate and must have the maximum required chains in their possession to proceed. Permit loads are prohibited.
All westbound trucks must also stop at the brake check area west of Nyack to reduce the risk of brake fires.
Drivers are urged to delay travel and check road conditions before heading into the Sierra.
The University of Nevada, Reno will delay the start of non-essential campus operations until 10 a.m. Thursday after assessing overnight weather and road conditions. In-person classes scheduled before 10 a.m. are canceled, though web classes and remote instruction will continue as planned. Students should check WebCampus for updates from instructors.
Truckee Meadows Community College will open at 11 a.m. Thursday. Classes and services will operate remotely until campuses reopen, and students and staff are encouraged to monitor email for updates.
Snow totals are in: More than a half foot fell in parts of the Reno-Carson area, with several feet reported in the Sierra, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.
Virginia City reported 15 inches in 24 hours, while Reno-Tahoe International Airport measured 8 inches. In the Sierra, storm totals ranged from 40 inches to more than 60 inches at several locations.
Another round of snow is expected Thursday afternoon. Heather Richards, meteorologist at Reno NWS, said the Reno area could see 2 to 4 inches, though localized snow bands may produce higher totals in some spots.
See the full snowfall breakdown here.
As Reno, Washoe County and the Nevada Department of Transportation continue clearing roads, here’s a list of offices with delayed openings today:
California Highway Patrol’s Truckee Facebook reported that I-80 is open in both directions over Donner Summit to passenger vehicles only under R-2 chain restrictions as of 7:52 a.m. The CHP warns more snow is coming.
“The skies are clear. Blue. Peaceful. Beautiful. Don’t let that fool you. The roads are still covered in ice, cold, and slick,” the post said.
According to CalTrans’s X account Highway 50 is now open in both directions as of this morning.
Mount Rose Highway (SR-431) is closed in multiple sections, according to the Nevada Department of Transportation.
Avalanche control has shut down both directions between the Mt. Rose Summit parking lot and Tahoe Meadows Trailhead.
A separate closure is in effect between Fairview Boulevard and Douglas Fir Drive, with all lanes blocked.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport continues to see flight cancellations as the impact of a winter storm reaches its second day.
Two flights were canceled as of 8 a.m., according to the airport. The canceled flights are:
A couple of flights are seeing delays of up to three hours but it is unconfirmed if the delays are related to winter conditions.
The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority previously urged travelers to check their flights prior to their trip.
“Passengers are encouraged to confirm their flight status directly with their airline and review the latest travel updates on renoairport.com before departing for the airport,” the airport spokesperson said.
The Washoe County School District again closed its schools on Wednesday, citing hazardous conditions amid a storm that left mountain passes closed and as much as eight inches of snow on valley floors.
The district sent the message just after 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Multiple other districts in the region made the announcement schools would be closed again on Tuesday night including Carson City and Story County school districts.
The University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College both announced Wednesday morning their campuses would remain closed. Both would resume online courses.
WCSD told the Reno Gazette Journal Tuesday’s snow day meant the school year would be extended by one day until Monday, June 8. The district set up three contingency days until June 10, but not has responded to if today’s snow day means the last day of school for students is extended again.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy with a slight chance of snow; highs in the low 30s. Mostly cloudy with up to 1 inch of snow overnight; lows in the low 10s to low 20s.
Thursday: A chance of snow in the morning, then heavy snow in the afternoon; accumulations of 3 to 6 inches possible. Highs in the low 30s. Mostly cloudy in the evening, with a chance of snow overnight. Lows in the upper 0s to upper 10s.
Friday: Partly cloudy, with highs in the upper 30s. Partly cloudy overnight, with lows in the upper 0s to upper 10s.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid-30s to mid-40s. Partly cloudy with a slight chance of overnight snow, with lows in the upper 10s to mid-20s.
Sunday: Snow and rain likely, with highs in the low 40s to low 50s.
Wednesday: Snow likely, with accumulations of up to 4 inches; highs in the 20s. Southwest winds 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph and ridge gusts up to 50 mph. Snow likely overnight, with accumulations of 1 to 5 inches; lows in the upper 0s to upper 10s. Southwest winds 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph and ridge gusts up to 55 mph.
Thursday: Heavy snow, with accumulations of 6 to 12 inches; 8 to 14 inches above 7,000 feet. Highs in the mid-20s. Southwest winds 10-15 mph, with gusts up to 35 mph. Snow likely in the evening, with a slight chance of snow after midnight. Lows from 0 to 10. West winds 10-15 mph, with gusts of up to 30 mph.
Friday: Partly cloudy, wiht highs in the upper 20s to upper 30s. Partly cloudy overnight, with lows in the mid-0s to mid-10s.
Saturday: Partly cloudy with a chance of snow; highs in the low 30s to low 40s. A chance of snow overnight, with lows in the mid-10s to mid-20s.
Sunday: Snow likely, with highs in the mid-30s to mid-40s. Heavy snow and rain in the evening, with heavy snow after midnight; lows in the low 20s to low 30s.
Before traveling over Sierra passes, check the latest weather conditions at nvroads.com and roads.dot.ca.gov.
Interstate 80: Chains are required on I-80 between the California state line and Gold
U.S. 50: As of 7:22 a.m., chains or snow tires are required in Churchill County between State Route 839 (west of Middlegate) to mile marker 98 (west of New Pass Summit). As of 5:25 a.m., U.S. 50 in California is closed from Meyers to Placerville due to spinouts.
State Route 431 (Mount Rose Highway): As of 5:25 a.m., SR 431 is closed from Galena Creek Park to the Incline Flume Trailhead.
