Red Flag Warning and Wind Advisory in place for Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for the greater Lake Tahoe area from 11:00 a.m. to Sunday to 11:00 a.m. Monday and a Lake Wind Advisory until 5:00 p.m. Monday.

A strong cold front will bring southwest to west winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph beginning Sunday morning and lasting into Monday. The humidity with this front is low - minimum 8 to 18 percent Sunday afternoon, with poor recovery tonight. Minimum 15 to 25 percent early Monday.

The combination of gusty winds and low humidity can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity.

Avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark near dry vegetation, such as yard work, target shooting, or campfires. The City of South Lake Tahoe has a ban on all outdoor fires except those campfires in rings at the campground. Campfires are banned on USFS land except for those in metal rings. Follow local fire restrictions so contact the department near you if unsure.

Check weather.gov/reno for updates and livingwithfire.info for preparedness tips.

Winds: Southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 45 mph Sunday afternoon and evening. Winds will lessen slightly overnight, but will stay elevated at 10 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Then, they will increase again to southwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts to 40 mph by early Monday morning.

Wave Heights: 1 to 4 feet, highest from midlake to northeast shores.

Small boats, kayaks and paddle boards will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters until conditions improve.

Check lake conditions before heading out and be prepared for a sudden increase in winds and wave heights. Consider postponing boating activities on the lake until a day with less wind.