Storm drops plenty of snow

RENO -- A powerful storm dumped up to 30 inches of snow and shut down the main artery from Nevada into Northern California.

A 70-mile section of Interstate 80 over the Sierra Nevada was closed again late Sunday afternoon because of zero visibility, said a dispatcher for the California Department of Transportation.

Similar conditions also forced a closure of the interstate for more than four hours earlier in the day.

It was slow going for mountain motorists throughout the day because of the storm, Caltrans spokesman Mark Dinger said. Several minor accidents were reported.

South of Lake Tahoe, Highway 88 over Carson Pass was closed for nearly 21/2 hours Sunday after a small avalanche trapped two vehicles at about 8:30 a.m., Dinger said.

Crews freed the vehicles from the slide, and no injuries were reported.

A section of Highway 88 over the nearby Carson Spur was closed throughout the day because of avalanche-control activities, authorities said.

When the trans-Sierra highways were open, chains were mandatory. Chains or snow tires were required on other highways around Lake Tahoe and along portions of the eastern Sierra.

Wind gusts of up to 109 mph were reported Sunday along the Sierra crest near Lake Tahoe, the National Weather Service said.

Searchers rescued a missing snowboarder Saturday night near Truckee, Placer County Sheriff Edward Bonner said.

Thomas Groh, 17, of Novato, Calif., was reported missing late Saturday afternoon by friends after he last was seen on a run at the Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.

He was found in good condition outside the resort's boundaries about 10:30 p.m. after contacting rescuers with his cell phone and giving an idea of his whereabouts, Bonner said.

"(Searchers) found tracks in the snow, ultimately finding Groh," the sheriff said.

The Kirkwood ski resort south of Lake Tahoe reported up to 30 inches of snow over a 24-hour period ending Sunday afternoon. The Mount Rose resort above Reno reported up to 29 inches of snow over a similar period ending Sunday morning.

The storm dumped snow along the eastern Sierra, including up to 12 inches in Carson City and 9 inches in Reno.