Winter Storm Helena has already begun to wreak havoc over several parts of the United States. So much so that the Sierra Nevada witnessed a small avalanche after blizzard conditions resulted in the closure of roads.
Not only this, in Oregon, the storm killed an 8-year-old girl as an evergreen tree fell into a home. The child was the daughter of a firefighter who was at that time working. Several other people inside the house were also injured.
Two feet of snow was recorded in Nevada along with at least a foot of snow expected in the higher reaches of Lake Tahoe. Due to inclement weather conditions, the main highway between Lake Tahoe and Reno remained close for quite some time.
All sierra passes remained closed during the night hours of Wednesday including the Interstate 80. Due to the avalanche at the Sierra Nevada, three vehicles were trapped, however, no one was hurt. While the visibility remained zero at times, no accidents were reported.
The storm is now making way towards the Rockies and Utah. Rainfall is also expected over parts of California which may turn out to be a good news for the drought stricken state. The Nevada-California line may witness a few inches of rain which may increase concerns for flash flooding.
Image Credit: seattletimes.com
