Avalanche Deposits "15 Feet" of Snow on Lake Tahoe Highway
As a major winter storm hits the Sierra Nevada, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) crews are hard at work keeping roadways safe and clear.
On Tuesday morning, February 17, that involved using an avalanche control system to bring down 15 feet of snow across the Mt. Rose Highway summit, a stretch of road that connects Reno, Nevada, to Lake Tahoe area ski resorts, like Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe.
Traffic was stopped, and after the avalanche was released, NDOT said that it had safely cleared the highway. The latest updates on road conditions are available at nvroads.com.
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This week, driving conditions should get worse before they get better throughout the Sierra Nevada. In a later social media post, NDOT advised that the storm is expected to intensify on Tuesday, “bringing ever-changing road impacts.”
The agency cautioned against unnecessary travel.
“If you must drive, leave extra travel time, and extra space between your vehicle and the car in front of you,” NDOT wrote.
Around Lake Tahoe, winter storm warnings are in effect. Near Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Incline Village could see as much as 17 inches of snow today, forecasters say.
In its winter storm warning, the National Weather Service noted that between one and three feet of snow could fall in the Tahoe Basin through 10 p.m. Wednesday. At higher elevations, even larger totals are expected, with four feet accumulating on the highest peaks.
Wind gusts, too, should be intense, ranging from 50 miles per hour to 100 miles per hour, depending on the altitude. Those winds could damage trees and power lines.
Because of the wind and snow, the National Weather Service warned that periods of whiteout conditions are possible and, like NDOT, urged those who have to travel to adequately prepare by bringing an extra flashlight, food, and water.
Palisades Tahoe
The snow is a welcome boon to conditions for skiers, but powder fans should expect delays at ski resorts this week.
In an update, Palisades Tahoe, California, announced that it was “implementing temporary base area closures this morning due to avalanche hazard.” Overnight, more than a foot of snow fell on the ski resort, bringing the storm totals to 41 inches at 8,000 feet.
Conditions are developing fast, so to get the latest information from your local ski resort, check their social media page or website.
Outside the ski resort boundaries, avalanche danger is spiking in the backcountry.
“Travel in, near, or below avalanche terrain is not recommended today,” the Sierra Avalanche Center wrote. “A widespread natural avalanche cycle is expected over the next 24 hours.”