May snow flurries, below-freezing temps hit Northern Nevada

RENO - Scattered snow flurries fell across much of Northern and western Nevada on Wednesday and as much as 2 to 3 inches of snow were forecast by this morning at higher elevations.

Lows below freezing were expected in many parts of Northern Nevada early today - dipping into the teens in the extreme northeast - as the chilly, windy mid-May weather moved in on the heels of six months of record warmth across much of Nevada.

Among other places, snow flurries were reported along the Eastern Sierra front, Reno, Carson City, Gardnerville and Fernley on Wednesday.

Visibility was reduced to one-half mile on U.S. Highway 395 in the Washoe Valley south of Reno at one time Wednesday afternoon.

''I kind of like it,'' said Brenda Fradd of Reno.

''I don't mind it if it doesn't stick and the sun is out,'' she told KTVN-TV.

Wind advisories were in effect across most of Nevada on Wednesday with high-wind warnings in effect in extreme eastern Elko County, where gusts to 65 mph were reported. White Pine County had wind gusts up to 55 mph.

Lake Tahoe was expected to receive anywhere from a trace to 2 inches of snow overnight, with a chance of snow showers continuing today and lows dipping into the teens above the 8,000-foot mark.

As much as 3 inches of snow were forecast overnight in the mountains of Elko County, with an inch or less in the valleys.

In Reno, every month since April 1999 has posted above-normal temperatures - the warmest stretch on record, state climatologist John James said.

Last month was the seventh warmest April in Reno in the 113 years records have been kept, averaging 54.1 degrees - 5.5 degrees above the normal 48.6.