Snow place like home

Boulder City was covered in snow last week, and it could be again as more snow is expected to fall today.

According to the National Weather Service, the town accumulated between half an inch and an inch of snow Sunday, Feb. 17. It melted soon after the sun came up Monday, but more snow is expected to start falling today before 4 p.m. There is a winter weather advisory for the area in effect until 4 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22.

The last time snow accumulated this significantly was in December 2008. McCarran International Airport had 3.6 inches while other parts of the Las Vegas Valley had 10 inches.

According to Accuweather.com, approximately 1.2 inches is expected to accumulate through tonight.

“An abnormally cold storm system is expected to swing southward along the West Coast during the middle of the week,” AccuWeather meteorologist Joseph Bauer said.

The National Weather Service forecast said there is an 80 percent chance of snow showers during the day and a 40 percent chance of them overnight. It will be cloudy with a high temperature near 42 degrees and a low near 33.

Also, wind gusts up to 35 mph are expected.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the low to mid-40s during the day through Tuesday, Feb. 26, with nightly lows ranging between 30 and 37.

Sunday’s snowy weather did not cause any accidents in town, according to Boulder City Communications Manager Lisa LaPlante.

With more winter weather expected, the National Weather Service is urging drivers to be careful on the road by driving slower than normal and leaving more room between them and the surrounding cars.

Sunday’s storm and icy conditions forced the closure of Interstate 15 between St. Rose Parkway and the California state line, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. Today’s weather could pose similar problems for travelers. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 511.

The 2008 snowstorm was the most since 1979, when 7.8 inches fell in a 48-hour period, beginning Jan. 30. The record was set in January 1949, with 9.7 inches falling over two days, the weather service said.

Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Mark Davis contributed to this story.

Contact reporter Celia Shortt Goodyear at cgoodyear@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow her on Twitter @csgoodyear.

Hali Bernstein Saylor is editor of the Boulder City Review. She can be reached at hsaylor@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9523. Follow @HalisComment on Twitter.