lightning

UPDATE 2:30PM 9/9/20: The North Complex Fire more than tripled in size since Tuesday and is now 150,140 acres with 38 percent containment.

SUNDAY UPDATE 11:00 a.m.: Eight hundred personnel are currently fighting the Creek Fire which has grown to 45,500 acres.

The Creek Fire a fast-moving fire burning on both Districts of the Forest. The fire which started near the communities of Big Creek and Huntington Lake, moved very quickly prompting several evacuations. Early Saturday afternoon the fire crossed the San Joaquin River and made a run into the Mammoth Pool area. Prompting some members of the public to shelter in place near Wagner’s Store and Campground.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a new lightning-caused fire in the upper, eastern side of Christmas Valley area Tuesday afternoon. Crews were at the scene quickly and there is also helicopter support.

Crew 45 from the USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and Zephyr Crew 21 are at the remote scene near Luther Spires.

A single-tree caught on fire as did a 30x30 foot square of brush.

Smoke is visible from Alert Tahoe cameras.

A second, smaller fire on Ward Peak, along with Monday's fire on Luther Pass are out, and were kept to less than 1/10 acre.

8:30 p.m. UPDATE: The Fire Weather Watch has been upgraded to a Red Flag Warning. The warning is from 8:00 p.m. Sunday to 11:00 a.m. Monday. Expect thunderstorms and strong outflow wind guest 40 to 50 mph.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Fire Weather Watch is in effect from Sunday at 8:00 p.m. through Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. for the Sierra, Northeast California and Western Nevada. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno is calling for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds in the area.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Multiple new fires, mostly from last week’s lightning, are causing a drastic decrease in air quality at Lake Tahoe and throughout the state. Another inversion is expected to set up overnight Thursday, and visibility may be impaired due to smoky conditions.

The air quality in all area communities has been around the unhealthy to very unhealthy range for the past two days. As of 3:45 p.m. Thursday, the Air Quality Index in South Lake Tahoe was 195.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno issued a special weather statement Wednesday, calling for widespread smoke and haze over the Sierra and northern California and western Nevada.

As of 8:00 a.m. the Air Quality measurement in South Lake Tahoe is 82, the moderate range. Tuesday night at 6:00 p.m. it jumped to 161, in the unhealthy range.

Fires:
Loyalton Fire is now at 46,386 acres and is 35 percent contained
Claremont Fire near Quincy is 450 acres
North Complex Fires are near Quincy and at 5,400 acres, 5 percent contained

Forest officials everywhere are saying: Recreate Responsibly.

Despite large campaigns about fire restrictions and "pack it in pack it out," many visitors to the Eldorado National Forest are not acting responsibly.

Fire and law enforcement officers had another busy weekend contacting a record numbers of visitors about campfires they had made that are not allowed under the current fire restrictions in the Eldorado National Forest.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds for Monday, July 27 from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

Normally, the Basin averages six Red Flag Warnings per season, and this makes four - and it's still July. Please remember all outdoor sources of open flame are prohibited until the Red Flag Warning declaration expires, and that includes gas/propane fire pits and grills.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Reno for Tuesday, July 21 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. followed by a Fire Weather Watch for Wednesday, July 22 from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just after 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, a strong cell moved over Meyers and South Lake Tahoe bringing warnings of frequent lightning, heavy rain, half dollar sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph.

During the system a bolt of lightning struck a home on Inverness Drive in the Tahoe Keys.

Simultaneously, alarms went off at South Tahoe Middle School and in a condo on Ala Wai Blvd.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is presenting their third "Tip of the Week," an ongoing series for the public since they are unable to perform their normal community outreach services.

Below are tips, lessons, videos, and hands-on activities for the children in the home.

This Week's Tip: Talking to Kids About Wildfire

A burned area assessment of the area burned by last month's Caples Fire is now underway. The Incident Commander Kevin Breitwieser has declared that the Caples Fire is now 100 percent contained and in patrol status at 3,435 acres.

There has been almost no change in fire size since October 18. The extreme wind event on October 26 that prompted a public safety power shutoff was a good test of the containment lines and resulted in three small spots that were extinguished. Traces of smoke from interior burning will continue to be visible, but no additional fire growth is expected.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday, August 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for Carson City and the portion of Douglas County in the valley. Also under the warning are other portions of Western Nevada, the Eastern Sierra and the west slope of the Sierra.

The Lake Tahoe Basin does not fall into this warning.

The Red Flag Warning is for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

Expect:

Toyota created the Avalon about 25 years ago as a more luxurious and bigger Camry. Eventually, Toyota used the Avalon chassis for its Lexus ES350 series. Nothing wrong there. Now in its fifth generation, the all-new Avalon really is all new. While the nameplate is old, it is looking to attract younger drivers. The median age of Avalon drivers has grown from about 60 in 2005 to about 66 currently. For this new generation Avalon, perhaps the question should be asked: “Why are 66-year old’s having all the fun?”

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Sydney McCarthy, a four-sport varsity athlete at South Tahoe High School (STHS), is headed to Marymount California University to play softball for the Mariners. In front of family and friends, she signed her letter of intent on National Signing Day Wednesday.

A South Lake Tahoe native, Sydney has earned Rookie of the Year and Softball MVP honors while with the Vikings and was team captain last year.

She has also excelled in the classroom as well in her other sports of golf, volleyball, and cheer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Chain controls have been lifted on several Lake Tahoe area roads, but that doesn't mean the snow storm is over. January 20 has been a day full of weather, from rain and thunder snow, to white-outs at the ski resorts and breezy conditions.

Both Kirkwood and Heavenly Ski Resort had to close some ski lifts earlier today after lightning was striking in the area and Sierra-at-Tahoe closed early due to high lightning potential.

Over the last several months there has been a great deal of wildland fire activity around the region. Sadly, most fires are human-caused and completely preventable if the public would take the time to better understand conditions that are favorable for fire starts. Fire prevention is the key to keeping our communities and forests safe from wildfire.

Although fire season is now considered a year-round event, wildfires mostly occur in the late summer and early fall when temperatures are still high, humidity is low and vegetation that can feed a wildfire is extremely dry.

Smoke from fires west of Lake Tahoe is expected to come into the basin again today, but Sunday morning is clear. Here is an update on most fires in Northern California and Western Nevada.

Thunderstorms are developing early this afternoon in Mono, Mineral and southern Lyon counties and heading towards Douglas County and Reno. Storms are expected to become stronger through the afternoon as they spread north.

Nickel size hail, frequent lightning, and wind gusts up to 50 mph will be possible with these storms. Localized flash flooding will also be possible, especially in steep terrain and over wildfire burn scars.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for July 20 from 2:18 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Firefighters quickly took care of a fire between Christmas Valley and Luther Pass Saturday afternoon after a tree was ignited by a strike of lightning as a strong storm system moved through parts of the South Shore.

Lake Valley Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service responded after several calls were received about smoke being seen in the area.

Called the Tucker Fire, it involved a single tree the fire was contained to a 5ft x 5ft area with the help of water drops by a helicopter.

Mother Nature must not want South Lake Tahoe to enjoy summer, quite yet. After a day of and night of thunder, lightning and rain, more is in the forecast.

There is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect until 5:00 a.m. Saturday morning, calling for snow above 8000 feet. 1-3" of snow with isolated areas seeing up to 6". Areas affected are Mt Rose, Carson, Ebbetts, Sonora and Tioga passes and high elevation hiking trails around the Lake Tahoe area, Alpine County and Mono County.

The Table Fire burning west of Lake Tahoe, three miles northeast of Ice House Reservoir, is now at 250 acres and 20 percent contained.

Crews worked on line preparation on the east, west, and south sides of the fire yesterday. The north direct line is completed. They started tactical burning operations on the northeast corner to remove fuel between the prepared line and the fire.

9:30AM Update 10/11 - Fire was active last night as it slowly backed down the mountain towards the indirect check lines. The fire is in remote country and not threatening any structures.

So far, 50 acres have burned and it is 10 percent contained.

The smoke from the Table fire is visible from Highway 50 and the Tahoe Basin. This is a lightning start from a previous storm that Sunday's high wind event activated.

Note: the smoke blanketing the Placerville and Pollock Pines areas is not from the local fires.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Lake Tahoe area from 2:00 p.m. Wednesday to 8:00 p.m. Thursday.

Thunderstorms with potentially dangerous lightening strikes are forecast along with heavy rain and possible flash flooding.

A negatively tilted trough is setting the stage for a widespread outbreak of thunderstorms this afternoon through Thursday from the northern Sierra and far western Nevada to the Oregon border.