A block of Tahoe Keys Boulevard near Venice Drive in South Lake Tahoe is off-limits Feb. 21 because a tree is across the road. Photo/Kathryn Reed

By Kathryn Reed

Roads remain a mess in the greater Lake Tahoe area as another storm system pummels the already saturated mountains.

The main closure is on Mount Rose Highway because a wall of snow, 20-feet deep fell there on Monday. No time has been given when it might reopen. It is closed at the Galena Creek Visitors Center.

“It was ugly up there,” Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Highway 50 in the American River Canyon is washed out near Bridal Veil Falls. Photo/CHP

Along Highway 50 near Bridal Veil Falls the side of the road has collapsed. According to the California Highway Patrol, the No. 2 lane is buckling.

The onramp at Interstate 80 and Highway 89 in Truckee is closed because of flooding.

Highway 89 around Emerald Bay is closed, as is Highway 88 getting to Kirkwood. The Carson Spur is also closed. Caltrans has no estimate when any of them will be open.

Check with Caltrans or NDOT for current road conditions, or click on the state icons on the home page of Lake Tahoe News.

A commuter to Carson City said visibility on Spooner Summit is horrible.

South Lake Tahoe crews will be out Tuesday assessing storm drains and water levels.

“Actually, all is not too bad. The snow level stayed just above the lake so run-off from the mountains wasn’t much at all,” Jim Marino, assistant public works director, told Lake Tahoe News.

Local firefighters have been dealing with downed trees and power lines.

There are widespread power outages on the West Shore. The lower mountain and lodge at Alpine Meadows don’t have electricity. Liberty Utilities crews hope to restore power by noon Tuesday unless further damage occurs.  

Avalanche danger and weather are making damage assessment difficult, according to Liberty. Customers in some locations should plan on multi-day outages.

A large swath of NV Energy customers on the South Shore also have no electricity.

Incline Village schools have decided to have a longer school day and stop early-out Wednesdays in order to make up for all the snow days.

According to the National Weather Service in Reno, 1 to 3 feet of snow could fall above 6,500 between now and Wednesday morning, 3-5 feet above 7,500 feet and torrential rain below 6,500 feet.