A strong upper level low over the northeast Pacific on February 28th moved southeast, reaching southern Oregon/northern California on the 1st of March. This system brought high winds and snowfall to the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada through the 3rd. Several school and business closures occurred due to the heavy snowfall.

Blizzard in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 08:00:00 to 02-MAR-18 04:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Interstate 80 closed from Colfax, CA, to the Nevada State line due to high winds, heavy snowfall, and whiteout conditions. The closure of Interstate 80 lasted from the early afternoon of 1 March through the late morning of 2 March. Chain and snow tires were required on several roads around the Greater Lake Tahoe Area. A snowboarder became lost during the blizzard conditions the night of the 1st and was found deceased near Squaw Valley Ski Resort 2 March at 1017PST. The cause of death from several reports is undetermined. Wind gusts during peak blizzard conditions ranged from 47 to 63 mph in the Greater Lake Tahoe area below 8,000 feet MSL, with the highest wind gust of 146 mph reported at 1 March 2134PST from a mesonet atop the summit of Squaw Valley.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

Trained weather spotter 2 miles northwest of Meyers reported 14.5 inches of snow from 2 March 0733PST to 3 March 0733PST. 48 hour total snowfall of 30 inches beginning 1 March 0733PST and ending 3 March at 0733PST.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 08:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

Trained weather spotter 1 mile north-northwest of Homewood reported 18 inches of snow fall in a 24 hour period from 2 March 0910PST to 3 March 0910PST. 48 hour total snow fall of 50.5 inches from 1 March 0910PST to 3 March 0910PST.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

Squaw Valley Ski Resort reported 68 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour period from 1 March 0948PST to 3 March 0948PST.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

Homewood Ski Area reported 50.5 inches of snowfall at an elevation of 6330 feet from 1 March 0937PST to 3 March 0937PST.

Heavy Snow in LASSEN/EASTERN PLUMAS/EASTERN SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 07:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: CoCoRaHS

CoCoRaHS station CA-SI-2, 1 mile southwest of Sierraville reported that 9 inches of snow fell in a 12 hour period from 2 March 0700PST to 3 March 0700PST.

Heavy Snow in MONO, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained weather spotter 6 miles west-northwest of Bridgeport reported 40 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour period from 1 March 0941PST to 3 March 0941PST.

Heavy Snow in MONO, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:50:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort reported 62 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour period from 1 March 0950PST to 3 March 0950PST.

Heavy Snow in MONO, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:49:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

June Lake Ski Area reported 72 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour period from 1 March 0949PST to 3 March 0949PST.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

Heavenly Ski Resort reported 54 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour time period from 1 March 0945PST to 3 March 0945PST.

Heavy Snow in LASSEN/EASTERN PLUMAS/EASTERN SIERRA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained weather spotter 1 mile north-northwest of Portola reported a 48 hour total snowfall of 13.5 inches from 1 March 0915PST to 3 March 0915PST.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 09:46:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Public

Northstar Ski Resort reported 52 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour period from 1 March 0946PST to 3 March 0946PST.

Avalanche in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 02-MAR-18 13:40:00 to 02-MAR-18 13:41:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Broadcast Media

An avalanche occurred at approximately 1340PST on 2 March at the base of the Olympic Lady chair lift at Squaw Valley Ski resort. The avalanche caught five people. One person sustained a serious lower body injury. A second guest had to be rescued, but was taken to the base of Squaw Valley and released. Three others left unharmed, according to KOLO8 News Reno.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 07:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained weather spotter 1 mile south-southwest of Boca Reservoir reported 20.5 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour period from 1 March 0700PST to 3 March 0700PST.

Heavy Snow in GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA, CALIFORNIA
From 01-MAR-18 00:00:00 to 03-MAR-18 07:00:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Trained Spotter

Trained weather spotter in Tahoe City reported 30 inches of snowfall in a 48 hour period from 1 March 0700PST to 3 March 0700PST.

Avalanche in MONO, CALIFORNIA
From 03-MAR-18 10:15:00 to 03-MAR-18 10:16:00 (PST-8)
Reported by: Newspaper

An avalanche at Mammoth Mountain occurred at approximately 1015PST on 3 March during a avalanche hazard mitigation search performed by the area ski patrol. The snow slid down down a steep run and funneled into a narrow chute named Upper Dry Creek before coming to a stop a the base of a chairlift. Six Mammoth Mountain employees at the lift were partially caught but freed themselves quickly, suffering only minor injuries. Source: Los Angeles Times.