Forecast: Haze and 80s in the seven-day forecast for South Lake Tahoe

Smoke from California fires have plagued the Lake Tahoe Basin for a few weeks, and there is no relief in sight. Afternoon winds stoked the Donnell Fire Wednesday, pushing a large plume of smoke into the atmosphere and sending it right to Lake Tahoe and the Reno/Carson Valley area.

Areas at greatest risk for unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality from the fires are from Douglas County south through Alpine County and the northern half of Mono County downwind from the Donnell Fire. Poor air quality may reach out into southern Lyon County and Mineral County Thursday and Friday as stronger westerly afternoon and evening winds develop.

Air quality in the South Lake Tahoe area has been in the good to moderate range this week, while Reno and the Carson Valley have seen an air quality index varying from unsafe for sensitive groups to unhealthy for all groups.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Tonight - Widespread haze. Clear, with a low around 45. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west in the evening.

Thursday - Widespread haze. Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday Night - Widespread haze. Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light south in the evening.

Friday - Widespread haze. Sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night - Widespread haze. Mostly clear, with a low around 47. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as
25 mph.

Saturday - Widespread haze. Sunny, with a high near 83.

Saturday Night - Widespread haze. Mostly clear, with a low around 46.

Sunday - Widespread haze. Sunny, with a high near 84.

Sunday Night - Widespread haze. Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Monday - Widespread haze. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83.

Monday Night - Widespread haze. Mostly clear, with a low around 46.

Tuesday - Widespread haze. Sunny, with a high near 84.

Tuesday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 47.

Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 84.