During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend meteorologists in Northern Nevada were preparing citizens for the first winter storm of the season. It was projected to hit our area on Tuesday morning on Dec. 3.
Most were preparing for the snow to be on the ground before they began their commute to work or school, but we did not see the effects of the storm until after 7:30 in the morning Tuesday.
Once the snow fell and the temperatures dropped the roadways in Northern Nevada became treacherous as calls from motorists kept coming into the Nevada Department of Public Safety Nevada Highway Patrol dispatch center. The calls ranged from assisting motorists stuck in the snow, motorists sliding off the highway and injury accidents.
Before noon Tuesday NHP Troopers responded to 15 slideoffs, 38 motorist assists, 40 property only accidents, 17 injury accidents and 4 accidents that involved NHP Troopers in which they were not at fault.
The day’s totals in the Northern Nevada area from 7:30am until 12:00pm were 41 reported slideoffs, 112 reported motorist assists, 118 reported property only accidents and 56 reported injury accidents.
Many of the incidents and accidents that the NHP Troopers responded to were caused by motorists driving too fast for the conditions of the highway, following too closely to other vehicles and driver inattention.
The Nevada Highway Patrol urges the motorists of Nevada to use caution when driving on all Nevada roadways. Use your seatbelt, turn on your headlights, make sure all of your windows are free of obstructions (snow and ice), please give yourself plenty of time during your commute, give yourself plenty of distance behind other vehicles and slow down as to have more time to react to any incident or accident that happens in front of you.
If you are planning a long distance trip please prepare yourself and your vehicle. Bring extra clothing to keep warm in case you are stranded with no assistance for an extended period of time. Bring food and water, a cell phone, and a flashlight.