The Latest: Avalanche warning in north Tahoe on NV-CA line

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Latest on the winter storm moving through the Sierra and northern Nevada (all times local, PST):

5:12 p.m.

An avalanche warning has been issued for neighborhoods on the north shore of Lake Tahoe along the California-Nevada line.

Washoe County’s Emergency Management division in Reno says no evacuations are necessary at this time. But pedestrians should avoid activity in subdivisions in the Crystal Bay area along Highway 28.

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday throughout the Lake Tahoe area, where another foot (30 centimeters) or more of snow is possible at lake level. Up to 20 inches (50 cm) is forecast in the upper elevations, where more than 3 feet (90 cm) of snow already has fallen.

A winter storm warning continues Saturday in northeast Nevada along U.S. Interstate 80 until 4 p.m. and further south until 7 p.m. along U.S. Highway 50 where more than a foot (30 cm) of snow is expected at Great Basin National Park on the Utah line.

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12:47 p.m.

A search and rescue team in the Sierra has found the body of a snowboarder who went missing in a blizzard at a Lake Tahoe ski resort.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim Friday as 42-year-old Wenyu Zhang of Rocklin, California.

The sheriff’s office says his body was located by Squaw Valley Ski Patrol members after friends reported him missing late Thursday night.

The search was suspended overnight due to high avalanche danger in the mountains where 3 feet (90 centimeters) of snow has fallen and winds were gusting to nearly 150 mph (240 kph).

The sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post that the search was aided by a tracking program that reads a computer chip or reflector that some manufacturers attach to clothing, boots or helmets.

The sheriff says Zhang was wearing a helmet when he was found at the resort south of Truckee, California. His cause of death has not been determined.

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12:13 p.m.

Search and rescue crews in the Sierra are looking for a skier who went missing in a blizzard at a resort near Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue launched a search at about 9 p.m. Thursday after a skier was reported missing at the Squaw Valley Resort in Olympic Valley south of Truckee, California. That’s about the same time a 146 mph (235 kph) gust of wind was reported at the top of the resort.

The search was suspended overnight due to avalanche danger. But the rescue team, Squaw Valley ski patrol and Placer County Sheriff’s Office resumed the search at daylight Friday.

High winds and the threat of avalanches postponed the opening of several area ski resorts Friday morning.

More than 3 feet (90 centimeters) of snow already has fallen at several resorts, including Mount Rose on the edge of Reno. Another foot (30 cm) of snow is possible by Saturday morning.

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11:30 a.m.

More than 3 feet of new snow (90 centimeters) in the Sierra and winds gusting to nearly 150 mph (240 kph) over the ridge tops temporarily shut down Interstate 80 on Friday and forced the cancellation of schools and state offices from Reno to Lake Tahoe.

More than another foot of snow was possible into Saturday.

A blizzard warning expired Friday but whiteout conditions were still possible around Lake Tahoe, where a winter storm warning remained in effect until 10 a.m. Saturday, the National Weather Service said.

I-80 reopened Friday morning but chains or snow tires were required from west of the California-Nevada line across the top of the Sierra, and on all major mountain passes.

Four feet (120 cm) already has fallen at Mammoth Mountain south of Yosemite National Park. A 146 mph (235 kph) gust of wind was recorded Thursday night atop Squaw Valley resort on the north end of Lake Tahoe, with a gust of 137 mph (220 kph) at neighboring Alpine Meadows.

Three feet (90 cm) of snow was measured at the Kirkwood resort south of Lake Tahoe and at the Mount Rose ski resort on the southwest edge of Reno.

Up to 6 inches (15 cm) of snow fell in the Reno area, which remains under a winter weather advisory until 10 a.m. Saturday. An 82 mph (132 kph) gust of wind was recorded Thursday on the west edge of Reno near Verdi.

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