Rain falls all day, snow all night

Just after 4 p.m. on Friday, the first snowplows from Carson City hit the road. After public works crews spent the day dealing with flooding storm drains, they spent the night plowing snow.

Meteorologists estimated that about 3 to 6 inches would hit the valley floors overnight, and after at least 2 inches of rain that fell all day Friday, that's one bogged down city.

"We really didn't know what the weather would do, but now that it's turned to snow, public works is in 12-hour shifts. Folks are preparing sandbags," said Carson City Sheriff's Lt. Ken Sandage on Friday evening. "Right now we're just waiting for the accumulation. We've got an emergency plan in place."

Sandage said should the need arise, the city is prepared to open evacuation centers in the event of power outages, and Search and Rescue is prepared to rescue stranded motorists.

Curtis Horton, Public Works Department deputy operations manager, said crews were out clearing storm drains of leaves, and replacing storm drain manhole covers that had blown off because of overtaxed systems. Three vehicles got stuck up on Goni Road at the antenna after one vehicle became stuck and two went to help.

Intersections like Nye Lane and Highway 395, Elaine and Fifth streets, and Little Lane and Roop Street were swamps. Among countless rain-caused adversities, Gottschalks' roof began to leak, and a water pipe burst at the historic Lakeview House on the west side of Lakeview Hill.

Mike Leahy of State Building and Grounds said the broken faucet was quickly repaired, the water was cleaned up and the floors dried before noon. There was no permanent damage to the structure.

In Northern Nevada, troopers responded to 37 calls for motorist assists and 16 accident calls through early Friday night, said Trooper Chuck Allen.

Calls continued through out the night keeping responders busy as the snow continued to fall.

"With the brunt of the storm settling in overnight in the valley areas, we are urging motorists to use extra caution when driving, and if at all possible, refrain from driving as the storm intensifies," he said.

Forecasters predicted what happened on Friday, and the additional predicted snowfall of two inches throughout today, will be nothing compared to what a storm tonight will bring.

"This one has a chance of producing another six inches of snow. And it will be all snow," said Brian Brong, National Weather Service meteorologist.

Expectations for today's storm have caused the cancellation of a wrestling tournament at Douglas High and the postponement of the Nevada men's basketball game against Utah State at Lawlor Events Center in Reno. No makeup date has yet to be announced.

Western Nevada College campus also is closed today.

Brong said the second storm is expected to last until Sunday and maybe into Monday.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

On the Net

To check out the weather in the

outlying areas visit:

• Http://vcweather.com for a Web cam of Main Street in Virginia City.

• http://video.dot.ca.gov for Truckee-area Web cams of Interstate 80 at Applegate, I-80 at Dutch Flat, I-80 at Kingvale, Highway 50 at Meyers, Highway 50 at Ski Run and I-80 at Truckee Scales.

• For Washoe Valley visit www.freewayextension.com and click on the large brown box to the right.