Staff and wire reports

Another round of winter weather hit the greater Reno Tuesday and is expected to taper off Wednesday into Thursday.

According to meteorologist Dawn Johnson with the National Weather Service, before the area will see a break, there will be more snowfall and dangerous travel conditions Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning.

“Anyone traveling should allow for extra time because once you get into (Wednesday) morning, it will be icy and snow-covered,” Johnson said. Updated road closures and chain requirements can be found at nvroads.com.

Johnson said another 2 to 4 inches of snow is expected to fall Tuesday into Wednesday in Reno and 6 to 8 inches in higher elevations. Snow totals are expected to pile up to 3 feet by Wednesday in the mountains, meteorologist Scott McGuire of the National Weather Service said Tuesday morning.

Authorities said a portion of U.S. 50 in the Sierra was in danger of collapsing after the shoulder gave way following heavy storms. The California Highway Patrol reported the shoulder of westbound Highway 50, east of Bridal Veil Falls in El Dorado County, collapsed and the second lane was buckling. According to CalTrans, the highway will be reduced to one lane in each direction until further notice.

Throughout Tuesday, crews worked to clear a deep avalanche that closed Mount Rose Highway. According to Trooper Dan Gordon with the Nevada Highway Patrol, the snow was 20 feet deep across parts of the road.

"It was ugly up there," Gordon said Tuesday morning. As of Tuesday night, the road was still closed.

Authorities said some localized flooding is possible throughout the remainder of the storm, but the main rivers should remain at or below flood stages. Smaller creeks, streams and drainage areas, however, are at risk of flooding. Authorities said to avoid flooded areas until public safety officials deem the areas safe.

Johnson said that the area will have a brief break Friday and Saturday until another round of storms is expected to blow through starting Sunday night.

ROADS:

* Interstate 80 was closed Tuesday night to all traffic for white out conditions. There is no estimated time of reopening.

* Mt. Rose Highway: Crews continue to work Tuesday on a deep avalanche that has closed Mount Rose Highway near the Galena Creek Visitor's Center.

* Authorities say a portion of U.S. 50 in the Sierra is in danger of collapsing after the shoulder gave way following heavy storms.

* Chain controls are in effect on Interstate 80 over Donner Pass, on mountain roads around Lake Tahoe and on California 89 north of Truckee, among other roads. Check the NVDOT roads page for the most current info.

SNOW TOTALS:

More than three feet of snow piled up at some Tahoe-area resorts during the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning.

The National Weather Service reported 39 to 43 inches at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe and 42 inches at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Mt. Rose has already surpassed 500 inches for the season.

Snow totals at Tahoe-area resorts for the 24 hours ending at 7 a.m. Tuesday are as follows:

* Mt. Rose: 39 to 43 inches

* Squaw Valley: 18 to 28 inches

* Alpine Meadows: 23 to 30 inches

* Mammoth Mountain: 26 to 30 inches

* Diamond Peak: 27 inches

* Sugar Bowl: 23 to 32 inches

* Northstar: 25 inches

* Homewood: 28 inches

* Heavenly: 42 inches

* Kirkwood: 24 inches

AVALANCHE INFO:

The Sierra Avalanche center advisory reported "high" danger levels at 6:51 a.m. Tuesday. That is the second-greatest danger rating on the five-level North American Public Avalanche Danger Scale after “extreme.”

When danger is high it means natural avalanches are likely and human triggered avalanches are very likely.

The two greatest problems Tuesday in the Tahoe area are wind slabs and storm slabs on all aspects except the west and southwest and storm slabs on all aspects at or below treeline.

“Travel in avalanche terrain is not advised,” the forecast stated.

FLOODING/RESCUES:

The California Nevada River Forecast Center reported on its website that the Truckee River did not reach flood stage in Sparks.

Reno police pulled two people to safety when their vehicles were stuck in standing water.

The first incident, about 1:48 a.m. Tuesday, was at North Sierra Street and Putnam Drive. The driver was inside an SUV submerged to just below its roof line, according to a police report.

The second incident was about 20 minutes later at North Virginia and 15th streets. That driver also was pulled to safety by police.

North Sierra and North Virginia streets are closed from 15th to 16th streets due to standing water.

SANDBAGS IN RENO:

* Old Moana Swimming Pool at 240 W. Moana Lane

* Idlewild Park, Nevada Peace Officers Memorial

* Public Works yard, 1640 E. Commercial Row - Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

SANDBAGS IN SPARKS:

* Larking Circle next to Pick-n-Pull

* 855 Linda Way

* Shelly Park

* Shadow Mountain Park

​RENO AREA FORECAST:

Wednesday: Chance of snow showers then partly sunny; high 36, low 19

Thursday: Mostly sunny; high 35, low 19

Friday: Partly sunny; high 39, low 26

TAHOE AREA FORECAST

Wednesday: Chance snow showers; high 28, low 8

Thursday: Mostly sunny; high 26, low 8

Friday: Partly sunny; high 31, low 17

Source: National Weather Service