Winds to 128 mph blasted the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday while gusts over 70 mph grounded planes in Reno and toppled trucks in western Nevada ahead of a winter storm expected to drop more than a foot of snow in the mountains.

The strongest gust on Slide Mountain of 128 mph was recorded Tuesday afternoon, about the same time winds hit 81 mph in Washoe Valley, blowing over at least three tractor-trailers.

Winds in the 60 mph range delayed arrivals and departures at the Reno airport and forced at least three cancellations, according to airport spokesman Brian Kulpin.

A wildland fire possibly sparked by arcing power lines quickly spread over more than 100 acres in the hills above Sparks, but was burning away from homes.

The winds ushered in a Pacific storm that was expected to drop a foot or so of snow in the mountains by early today, with 6 inches or so at Lake Tahoe. A winter-storm warning is in effect through this afternoon.

In western Nevada, snow was expected to accumulate up to 4 inches in the foothills, with an inch or so possible on the valley floors just in time to disrupt the morning commute.

But ahead of the storm, the story was the wind.

Gusts knocked down numerous power poles and trees, kept emergency crews hopping, and left residents like Larry Koltz on Tahoe Mountain near South Lake Tahoe feeling lucky to be alive.

"I couldn't figure out why I kept smelling oranges," Koltz said, standing in his second-floor recreation room next to a tree branch that skewered the ceiling.

The Jeffrey pine, which smells like oranges, hit the floor so hard it bounced up on the pool table. Remarkably, Koltz's prized Disney collection was not damaged in its tempered-glass enclosure.

"It sounded like a bomb. We're very lucky no one was hurt," Koltz said, admitting at first he didn't want to look at the damage. The co-owner of L.J. Jewelers, who has lived in Tahoe since 1992, had been remodeling the house, and part of that job included the roof and siding.

"I want to live and die here, but stuff like this kind of spooks you," he said.

Winds exceeding 100 mph have been known to brush the community above Fallen Leaf Lake. Along with the house, the 30-foot section of tree damaged three vehicles parked in the driveway. While Koltz's roofers stood there later that morning, another tree's top came crashing onto the street.

On the valley floor, high-profile rigs were diverted from wind-prone Highway 395 through Washoe Valley, but at least six still were tossed by the vicious winds, one ending up across the two-lane diversion road.

Tahoe ski areas shut down their lifts in deference to the winds, which tossed the lake's usually placid waters into 6-foot breakers, according to the weather service.

As the snow moved in behind the wind, driving controls were posted in the Sierra Nevada.

Shortly after sundown, chains were mandatory over Donner Summit on Interstate 80 and on Highway 50 in California from Meyers to Kyburz.

Both the snow and wind were expected to taper off late today with skies returning to cloudy by Thursday.



• Susan Wood, of the Tahoe Daily Tribune, and Tom Gardner, of The Associated Press, contributed to this report.