Nearly 100 mph winds in Sierra

RENO — Winds are gusting to nearly 100 mph over the ridgetops of the Sierra Nevada, downing power lines in the Reno area and slowing traffic ahead of a major winter storm off the Pacific.

NV Energy reports more than 2,400 customers were without power in the Reno area before noon Thursday.

A winter storm warning remains in effect through 4 a.m. Friday around Lake Tahoe, where 1 to 3 feet of snow is expected at the upper elevations. Flood watches and warnings have been issued for many streams and rivers along the Nevada-California line.

The National Weather Service says winds gusted to 97 mph at the Mount Rose Ski Resort on the edge of Reno and reached 91 mph in the Washoe Valley between Reno and Carson City, where travel on Interstate 580 is closed to high-profile trucks and campers.

At the Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting, Nick Marano, Carson City manager, said residents can get up to the minute information at the city’s web site, carson.org, or its Twitter account, @carsoncitygov.

At the website, he said to click on the Maps & GIS icon on the bottom of the front page. From there, go to City Maps, then to Status Maps, to view a map of the city that will be updated with any flooding, street closures, downed power lines or other storm-related information.

The link named One-Stop Shop in the upper right hand corner of the status map takes visitors to a page with updated travel information from Nevada Department of Transportation as well as weather data.