Sierra ski resorts open with plenty of snow

LOS ANGELES - The Latest on winter storms in California and Nevada (all times local):

1:15 p.m.

Some Lake Tahoe ski resorts shuttered for part of the week have re-opened with deep snowfall that is delighting ski enthusiasts.

The Heavenly Mountain Resort reported receiving 12 feet of snow during back-to-back storms. The Northstar California Resort reported 8 feet of snow. Both were open Thursday.

The massive amount of snow blocked roads and made conditions unsafe for travelers, forcing some resorts to close and frustrating area ski fans used to hitting the slopes.

National Weather Service meteorologist Shane Snyder in Reno says a light snow system is coming through, but it should clear by Thursday night. A winter storm warning is in effect until then.

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7 a.m.

Northern California continues to struggle Thursday with clogged commutes, flooded roads and water-logged homes after several days of relentless rain that has lightened.

The Russian River in Sonoma County, which surged to its highest level in a decade, should recede to below flood levels by Friday as the weather system moves out.

Residents are using boats to traverse flooded streets and inside homes.

The National Weather Service in Monterey says there will be light showers Thursday afternoon in the San Francisco Bay Area before the area dries out.

The weather service says Monterey County mountains saw more than 34 inches of rain since Jan. 2.

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5:30 a.m.

Flooded roads and freeways along with low fog and clouds are making for a hazardous commute as another round of heavy rain moves through Southern California, raising fresh fears of possible mudslides in wildfire burn areas.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning until late Thursday for mountain areas east of Los Angeles, where icy conditions are accompanied by strong winds. Snow could fall at elevations as low as 4,000 feet, creating dangerous driving conditions in mountain passes.

Some areas are reporting up to a half-inch of rain per hour. Downpours are expected through midday.