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Sierra Awakes To Blanket Of Fresh Snow

TRUCKEE (CBS13/AP) - Up to a foot of snow has dropped in some areas of the Sierra Nevada, raising hopes of a white Thanksgiving holiday in the mountains.

As much as a foot of snow covered the upper elevations around Tahoe, with 8 inches at lake level, the National Weather Service said. Wind gusts were possible up to 100 mph over mountain ridge tops.

National Weather Service forecaster Karl Swanberg says a winter storm warning will be in effect through Wednesday afternoon.

A snowstorm packing 50 mph winds blew into Lake Tahoe and northern Nevada on Tuesday, slowing mountain travelers getting an early start on the holiday and kicking up dust storms along U.S. Interstate 80 east of Reno.

State troopers responded to multiple accidents on I-80 near Donner Pass southwest of Truckee, California, but no serious injuries were reported Wednesday.

Swanberg says between 8 and 13 inches of snow had fallen in the Sugar Bowl resort near Truckee in the Sierra Nevada.

Lake and ground level areas reported about 4 inches of snow Wednesday.

Swanberg says more snow is expected through Wednesday.

The cold front is expected to run its course by Thanksgiving, when cold but clear-and-dry weather is forecast.

National Weather Service forecasters say storms could bring rain and snow to parts of Southern California later this week.

Los Angeles and Orange counties, the valleys and the Inland Empire will have a 20 percent chance of morning showers on Wednesday with highs in the mid-60s.

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