The Dec. 13, 2021, R-C Storming Report

Genoa, Nev. — Road controls are in effect over Kingsbury and Spooner Summit this morning as snow levels are above 6,000 feet, but that’s likely to change today with a winter storm warning starting at 5 p.m., up, down and all around Douglas County.

Douglas County is closing Whittell High and Zephry Cove Elementary schools at Lake Tahoe today, since there’s already snow on the roads topside. At least that gets the buses off the road for this morning’s commute.

A backcountry avalanche warning has been issued for the Central Sierra between Yuba and Ebbetts passes and across the Lake Tahoe area. Probably better to hang out at the Lodge today rather than testing the cornices.

Snow accumulations of 2-4 inches are expected below 5,000 feet with 4-8 inches between 5,000 and 5,500 feet and 8-18 inches above 5,500 feet. And it won’t just be snow, but gusty winds along the Highway 395-88 corridor. While the warning arrives at 5, the weather doesn’t wear a watch.

The CHP responded to a vehicle off Highway 88 at Red Lakes Road at 5:51 a.m. and there’s a spin-out of Interstate 80 near Gold Run, but there aren’t any serious traffic issues on our side of the state line. I expect that’ll change over the next few hours.

Snow telemetry at Horse Meadows shows 11 inches of snow over the last 24 hours in the canyon between Freel and Jobs peaks. Heavenly Valley is reading 6 inches this morning. I had .6 inches a mile north of Genoa. Those would be a pretty good totals even if there wasn’t more coming.

And there is more coming. Expect rain in Carson Valley with a high temperature of 46 degrees before 10 p.m. with the wind out of the south at 15-25 mph, gusting to 35 mph. Snow’s not due until 10 p.m. in Minden, and then it could be anywhere up to 9 inches. If that comes anywhere near reality, Tuesday morning’s drive is going to be a mess. 

Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com