12-18-2008 Winter Comes Early - lincolncountyrecord.com

WINTER COMES EARLY

Main Street in Panaca Monday Afternoon

Winter, officially starting December 22, is not here yet, but it made an early entrance in a big way throughout much of the southwest U.S. including Nevada and Lincoln County.

Between three to five inches fell during the snowstorm Monday that disrupted most everything to some degree. All the county roads and highways were covered with packed snow making slick and treacherous conditions for anyone without four-wheel drive. In places, strong winds contributed to blowing snow across roadways.

Temperatures Monday did not rise enough to melt much of the snow off roads, although slushy conditions did exist later in the day. At the Y intersection leading to Panaca, and on U.S. 93 in Caliente through traffic did eventually melt most of the snow.

The storm brought heavy snow above the 4,000-foot level and 2-3 inches at the 3000 foot level. Snow also blanketed Las Vegas and further south. California Highway Patrol closed I-15 through the Cajon Pass in California for a time. Las Vegas TV stations reported for some of the school children in the southern areas of the state, it was the first time they have seen snow.

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer