Dec 15, 2008 2:22 pm US/Pacific
Snow Dusting Bay Area Peaks, Dumps On Sierra
(CBS 5 / AP / BCN)
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A driver clears snow from his windshield wipers at a stop near Cisco Grove, Calif. in the Sierra.
AP
The National Weather Service issued a snow advisory Monday for the Bay Area at elevations above 2,000 feet.
Small hail or snow was reported in Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County; on Skyline Ridge near the border of Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties; and near the Lexington Reservoir in Santa Clara County, National Weather Service forecaster Diana Henderson said.
The snow had not appeared to be sticking and was not reported at elevations below 2,000 feet, Henderson said.
Snow flurries were likely to continue at higher elevations, but were expected to taper off around midnight.
Drivers were cautioned to be prepared for slippery roads and patches of limited visibility, particularly those traveling on state Highway 29 near Robert Louis Stevenson Park north of Calistoga; sections of state Highway 128 in Napa County; and on state Highways 35 and 9 in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Bay Area Cold Snap Continues
The current cold snap was expected to continue into the week, particularly in areas like Livermore, Concord, Santa Rosa and Napa, which are furthest from the San Francisco Bay and from inland valleys, Henderson said.
Since Sunday morning, downtown San Francisco had received about three-quarters of an inch of rain and San Jose had received slightly less than half an inch, Henderson said.
Heavy Snow In Sierra
Elsewhere, heavy snow continued in the Sierra on Monday, delighting Lake Tahoe area ski resorts, but causing headaches for drivers across the region.
A winter storm warning for the Lake Tahoe region and Reno area remained in effect. As much as 2 feet of snow was expected in higher elevations by Tuesday night, with 6 to 8 inches on the valley floors, the National Weather Service said.
Heavenly Mountain Resort, which opened last week on the south end of Lake Tahoe, reported nearly 18 inches of snow by Monday to add to its 24-inch base depth. Prior to the storms Heavenly had been making snow.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort, which opened Sunday, reported 14 to 18 inches of new snow and Squaw Valley USA on the north end of the lake reported 22 inches of new snow.
"Mother Nature's finally got it right and she's cooperating to supplement our snowmaking efforts," said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.
"The timing is perfect as it sets us up with a healthy snow pack for the holiday season and beyond," said Andy Chapman, tourism director of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association.
Chains or snow tires were required on all trans-Sierra highways, including Interstate 80 and U.S. 50. Travel restrictions also were posted for U.S. 395 through Washoe Valley, and for several hundred miles north of Reno into California.
"There's moderate snowfall and the wind is blowing, which is reducing visibility," said Sgt. Steve Bryan of the California Highway Patrol. He said here had been 30 to 35 accidents in the area since the storm started Saturday, mostly fender-benders that caused only minor injuries if any.
"We've had cars into cars, cars into snow banks, a few have hit some snowplows," he said.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.)
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Snow Advisory For Bay Area Peaks
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