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Snow Falling In Sierra As First Winter Storm Hits

MT. ROSE (CBS/AP) Snow is falling in the Sierra as a cold winter storm moves over Northern California.

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the greater Lake Tahoe Area and the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, but canceled it after it determined that snow would not accumulate.

Snow is already falling in some of the higher elevations.  Anywhere from two to four inches of snow is forecast for late Tuesdday.  The storm could bring snow through Wednesday.

The storm has swamped Reno with record-setting rain and dropped enough snow at the top of the Sierra to close a mountain highway pass near Lake Tahoe.

Snow forced the closure of California Highway 89 at Monitor Pass south of Tahoe on Tuesday. Chains were required on the Mount Rose Highway connecting Reno to Incline Village.

Another two to four inches of snow was expected above 8,000 feet in the Sierra, where one to three inches had been recorded by Tuesday morning.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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