Clint Wells has worked at Reno Vulcanizing for 22 years and says a trickle of motorists started  buying snow tires last week when wintery weather was in the forecast, but after Monday’s mountain storm he’s been swamped with work …

Full winter tires, all season tires, studded tires, pure winter tires, the whole gamut … tire chains …

According to Wells, he sees such a rush every year and equates the surge in business with what he calls ‘the official beginning of winter.’  Tire stores all over town are reporting an increase in business, and the National weather Service is predicting more snow for the mountains later this week.  Long range forecasts call for a snowier than average season during this strong El Nino year.