Warning Description: Blizzard Warning

Warning Date: 4:11 PM PST on January 4, 2008

WarningSum:...Blizzard Warning Remains In Effect Until 10 Am Pst Saturday...

Warning Message:A Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 10 am PST Saturday. 
Heavy snow will continue across the eastern Sierra from Lake
Tahoe south to Mono County. Snow levels have lowered below 6000
feet in the Lake Tahoe area...and will drop below 6000 feet in
Mono County this evening. Snowfall rates near 6 inches per hour
are likely through tonight....with 1 to 3 inches per hour in the
lower elevations.
Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 feet above 7000 feet with
higher amounts along the Sierra crest will occur by Saturday
morning. Below 7000 feet including the Lake Tahoe basin...1 to 2
feet of snow will accumulate by Saturday morning with amounts up
to 3 feet along the West Shore of Lake Tahoe and along Highway
395 in Mono County.
Strong winds will continue through tonight. Gusts up to 70 mph in
Mono County and gusts up to 40 mph in Lake Tahoe will continue...with
gusts near 110 mph over the Sierra ridges. These strong winds will
combine with the heavy snow to bring blizzard conditions over the at
Sierra passes...with a period of blizzard conditions reaching
lower elevations this evening.
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are
occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds will
produce zero visibility. Do not travel in these conditions. If you
get stranded...stay with your vehicle.
Warning Description: Special Weather Statement

Warning Date: 5:56 PM PST on January 4, 2008

WarningSum:...Major Winter Storm Impacting Into The Sierra...

Warning Message:The following is a list of impacts from this storm
...Current watches and warnings...
* Blizzard Warning until 4 am Saturday for the Sierra north of
  Interstate 80.
* Blizzard Warning until 10 am Saturday for the Sierra south of
  Interstate 80 including the Lake Tahoe basin and Mono County.
* Winter Storm Warning until 4 am Saturday for northern Washoe
  County and the Surprise Valley.
* Winter Storm Warning until 10 am Saturday for Reno...Carson
  City...Minden and Gardnerville.
* Winter Storm Warning until 10 am Saturday for Lyon...Pershing
  Churchill and Mineral counties.
...Storm information...
A major winter storm will impact the Sierra and western Nevada
through Saturday morning. A cold front is moving south of Highway
50 and lowering snow levels to valley floors.
Blizzard conditions will continue tonight in the Sierra...with
impossible travel conditions. Several roads in the Sierra are
closed. Avalanche danger will increase in the Sierra tonight.
Moderate to heavy snow will continue across western Nevada through
Saturday morning.
State and local emergency managers are working with the National
Weather Service and are in the process of preparing for emergency
response...should it become necessary. Citizens can assist in this
effort by staying informed on the latest forecasts from the National
Weather Service at weather.Gov/Reno.
The staff of the National Weather Service in Reno would like to
thank our many dedicated weather spotters who are calling in
weather reports. Please continue to call in your valuable reports.
...Snow accumulations...
For the Sierra...from today through Saturday morning
* 3 to 5 feet above 7000 feet with higher amounts along the Sierra
  crest.
* 1 to 3 feet between 5000 and 7000 feet including the Lake Tahoe
  basin.
For western Nevada and northeast California...from Friday evening
through Saturday morning
* 3 to 7 inches with amounts up to 12 inches in the foothills.
...Winds...
Winds in the lower valleys will slowly decrease this evening as
the cold front moves south of the area. However gusts up to 45 mph
will continue and create areas of blowing snow with visibilities
down to 1/4 mile at times.
For the Sierra ridges...winds of 60 to 80 mph with gusts near 110 mph
will continue tonight.
Below 7000 feet in the Sierra...gusts of 40 to 60 mph will
continue and gradually decrease tonight. This will result in
blizzard conditions and visibilities near zero.
...Travel impacts for the Sierra...
* Interstate 80 is closed from the Nevada state line to
  Applegate.
* Portions of California state routes 88 and 89 are closed.
* Highway 395 is closed from Bridgeport to State Route 167.
* Mt rose Highway - Nevada State Route 431 is closed.
* Do not attempt to travel in the Sierra tonight and Saturday.
* Attempting to travel in the Sierra will put your life at risk!
Additional Road closures are likely in the Sierra due to the
dangerous blizzard conditions. Blizzard conditions with zero
visibility will make travel impossible. Stay at home!
Weather spotters around the Lake Tahoe basin are reporting
snowfall rates of 3 inches per hour or more. Snowfall rates of 3
to 6 inches per hour will continue tonight...and make it
impossible for Road crews and emergency personnel to keep roads
passable and to assist stranded vehicles. If you attempt to travel
in the Sierra your chances of being stranded is very high.
Delay all travel plans in the Sierra until the storm passes and
Road conditions improve late this weekend or early next week.
Alternate routes will not be available...as dangerous blizzard
conditions will affect all roads crossing the Sierra from Lassen
County southward to Mono County.
...Travel impacts for areas below 5000 feet...
* travel is discouraged across western Nevada tonight.
Travel conditions across western Nevada and eastern California
will deteriorate this evening as snow levels lower to valley
floors. Periods of heavy snow...snowfall rates up to 3 inches per
hour...and gusty winds will lower visibilities below 1 mile.