RENO, Nev. - The Latest on a snowstorm moving across northern Nevada (all times local, PST):

5:55 p.m.

An icy pileup involving more than a dozen vehicles has closed the eastbound lanes of U.S. Interstate 80 east of Sparks.

But the interstate has reopened in the northeast part of the state where it had been closed for nearly four hours after a crash in a tunnel near Elko.

The Nevada Department of Transportation closed the eastbound lanes of I-80 east of Reno-Sparks at about 2 p.m. Thursday after a multi-injury accident near the Mustang exit about 24 miles east of the Nevada-California line.

KTVN-TV reports as many as eight people were taken to the hospital.

Just south of Reno, where as much as a half-foot of snow has fallen in some areas, another serious crash has closed the northbound lanes of I-580 and a jack-knifed semi-trailer truck has blocked part of U.S. 395-Alternate.

In northeast Nevada, NHP Trooper Jim Stewart says two people were injured when six vehicles were involved in the crash that shut down the eastbound lanes of I-80 at the Carlin Tunnels west of Elko just before noon. Neither injury was considered life-threatening.

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12:50 p.m.

Multiple crashes in a snowstorm in northeast Nevada have shut down the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 in a tunnel near Elko about 120 miles (190 kilometres) west of the Utah line.

The Elko Daily Free Press reports the westbound lanes through the Carlin Tunnels west of Elko were closed shortly before noon Thursday.

Initial reports indicated one accident involved four vehicles and another two vehicles. At least one involved injuries.

Crews for the Nevada Department of Transportation were in the process of deploying a snowplow to open the tunnel bypass Thursday afternoon.

The storm dumped nearly a half foot of snow in just two hours near Reno earlier Thursday. Several Reno schools closed and chains or snow tires were required on I-80 across the Sierra and most mountain passes in the Lake Tahoe area.

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10:55 a.m.

A fast-moving storm in the Sierra has dumped about a half-foot of snow (15 centimetres) near Reno and triggered travel restrictions on U.S. Interstate 80 and most mountain passes around Lake Tahoe.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday from the Reno-Tahoe area as far east as Lovelock.

Chains or snow tires were required on I-80 from Truckee to Baxter, California.

The National Weather Service says 5 inches (12 cm) of snow fell in just two hours during the Thursday morning commute in Cold Springs north of Reno. About 3.5 (8 cm) inches was recorded in three hours at Reno-Stead Airport.

Up to another 6 inches (15 cm) of snow was in the forecast at Lake Tahoe into Thursday night.

Most of northeast Nevada was under a winter weather advisory until 4 p.m.

News from © The Associated Press, 2018