Snowstorm creates difficult road conditions

A winter storm came through Lincoln County Dec. 14, and while the possibility of a white Christmas is attractive to some, the effects of winter weather have the emergency services of Lincoln County worried for travelers. The first snowfall of the season was in Pioche Dec. 9. Over the next few days, parts of Lincoln County continued to see light snow, including Caliente and Panaca, until things took a turn for the worse.

According to a Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post, on Tuesday evening, a heavy snowstorm blew in from the north. Roads north of Pioche were nearly impassable, with the sheriff’s office citing low visibility and heavy slush along the roadways during the evening.

While the Nevada Department of Transportation was out in force to try and make the roads a little more traversable with plows, they had to take time to rest their machinery and personnel until morning. Wednesday saw the sun come out and help with the snow-clearing efforts, though a lot of slush and ice were still present on roads into the evening.