Weather

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The overnight snow storm that hit the Sierra Tuesday night left over a foot of snow on the mountains around Lake Tahoe.

Ten inches of new snow fell overnight at Homewood Mountain Resort’s summit on Lake Tahoe’s west shore, and two inches at the base (lake level). With a winter storm warning in effect until 6:00 p.m. tonight, the National Weather Service forecast is calling for another 4-8” of snow throughout the day today, and 1-3” tonight.

Heavenly staff reports 16" of snow overnight.

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts and California State Parks are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations this week, weather permitting. Smoke may be visible.

Scheduled operations at five locations this week:

Sugar Pine State Park - California State Parks, West of Hwy 89, along S Fire Rd and Campground Rd, 20.00 acres

Burton Creek State Park - California State Parks, North of Rocky Ridge, West of
North Tahoe High School, 17.00 acres

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are two new weather watches issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, but most of the impacts will be above the 6500 foot elevation.

First come the winds. A High Wind Watch is in effect Tuesday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Winds will be front the south 20 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. Stronger wind gusts to 75 mph are possible in Nevada for wind-prone areas along and west of Highway 395 and Interstate 580. Exposed ridges are likely to gust over 100 mph.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A High Wind Warning for the Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada area has been extended through 1:00 a.m. Saturday.

Southwest winds are expected to be 25-35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Wind prone areas such as the Sierra foothills and portions of US-395 through the North Valleys and Washoe Valley can see gusts to 75 mph at times. Sierra ridges will gust well over 100 mph.

This warning is for the Greater Lake Tahoe Area and Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will begin conducting prescribed fire operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin this week, weather and conditions permitting.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is scheduled to being operations Monday at Diamond Peak Ski Resort (50 acres) and later near War Bonnet Way/Peace Pipe Lane in Incline Village (20 acres).

California State Parks is scheduled to begin operations at Burton Creek (17 acres) and Sugar Pine Point (20 acres) state parks beginning as early as Tuesday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for the Lake Tahoe Basin from 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 7 to 10:00 a.m. Sunday, November 8.

A total of 3"-6" of snow is expected with upper elevations seeing up to 10" of snow.

There are current chain controls on SR88 from Silver Lake to Picketts Junction but the new storm approaches expect chain requirements on all main highways and passes.

The three-day forecast for South Lake Tahoe from the National Weather Service in Reno:

The South Lake Tahoe Library is holding a parking lot/sidewalk book sale on Saturday, November 14th from 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tables will be set up with a great selection of books to choose from.

Prices are only $5 a bag and $1 per large, coffee table books. Great selection for fireside reading this winter.

For the health and safety of all, masks will be worn, entry will be monitored to one person (or family group) per table and hand sanitizer will be available. At check-out, correct change is appreciated.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has upgraded their previous fire weather watch to a Red Flag Warning for the Lake Tahoe Basin Sunday at 5:00 p.m. to Monday at 5:00 p.m.

The forecast is for gusty winds and low humidity. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts of 30 to 35 mph. Higher gusts of 40 to 50 mph are possible along mid-
slopes and wind-prone areas with gusts of 70+ mph along the Sierra Crest.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A persistent pattern of dry and mild conditions will continue into the middle of the week. Temperatures begin a cool down by Thursday
as a dry cold front dips south across the region. Additional cooling and breezy north winds are possible next weekend with some slight chances for light rain and higher elevation snowfall, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

Overwhelm, aggravation, annoyance, frustration, irritation, unsettling. . .What other words can you think of to describe our current circumstances? Luckily, there is a cure for all of these feelings. You already know what I am going to say: Yoga.

Just Stop

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has upgraded their previous warnings for the Lake Tahoe Basin. There is now a Red Flag Warning in effect Saturday, October 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

The combination of gusty winds and extremely dry fuels can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them, so use extreme caution.

Christmas tree permits for National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin will be available for purchase online through Recreation.gov beginning November 16, 2020. Details about designated cutting areas, dates and types of trees that may be cut can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits/ltbmu.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Change is in the air for the Lake Tahoe region this week. We'll be saying goodbye to the 80s and 90s, and hello to more seasonable 60s and 70s.

By the end of the week there is even a slight chance of rain and upper-elevation snow (yes, I said that word).

High pressure will produce warm afternoons, dry conditions, and mainly light winds through mid-week. Mornings will remain cool to chilly. Areas of smoke and haze will linger into Monday or Tuesday. Cooler, breezy, and wet conditions are possible Friday through next weekend.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Northeasterly winds will continue to keep smoke out of the region through at least early Tuesday. An area of high pressure will build into the Great Basin leading to warming temperatures and dry conditions through at least next weekend, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

Control of the Fork Fire transferred to a local Type 3 team today. The fire was remapped and is 1,667 acres and is 70 percent contained and is located north of Pollock Pines and west of Lake Tahoe, burning in the Crystal Basin/Gerle Creek area. Strategy on the fire will remain the same with emphasis on clearing contingency lines distant from the main edge of the fire in case the fire begins to move.

Forest and fire managers would like people to be aware that while the fire closures are being reduced, there is still fire activity in the area.

The Fork Fire burning west of Lake Tahoe, north of Pollock Pines continues to be 1,752 acres in size but is now 61 percent contained. The Southwest Area Incident Management Team 4 has been in command of the Fork Fire since September 11 and will be handing that duty over to another team on Thursday, September 24.

The containment lines are to the north, east and south sides of the Fork Fire and fire continues to burn in the steep Rubicon drainage area.

351 personnel are assigned to the fire at this time.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Lake Tahoe Basin is under Red Flag/Critical Fire Weather conditions through 11:00 p.m. Friday.

California is extremely stressed for resources and it is important for residents and guests to understand the dangers these weather conditions present.

With 70-90 mph ridge winds and low humidity values predicted Thursday night into Friday along the crest of the Sierra, any spark could easily become a catastrophic wildfire.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Lake Tahoe Basin from 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17 to 11:00 p.m. Friday. Earlier this week they issued a Fire Weather Watch for the region but that has now been upgraded to a Fire Weather Warning. There is also a Lake Wind Advisory in place and the Dense Smoke Warning expires Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m.

UPDATE 9/17 10:45AM: The Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) event previously forecast for Friday, September 18 for the Incline Zone is canceled due to updated weather forecasts.

There is a Red Flag warning at Lake Tahoe with elevated fire weather conditions and NV Energy will continue to monitor conditions and take extra steps to mitigate wildfire risk. This includes staging their line crews, vegetation management crews and fire agency partners at specific locations around the lake.
* * *

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Fire Weather Watch to be in effect for Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada for Thursday at 11:00 a.m. through Friday at 8:00 p.m.

Winds will be from the southwest on Thursday, shifting to west on Friday. Sustained winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph possible for both days. Strongest gusts Thursday could be US Highway 50 north and on Friday could be US Highway 50 south. Winds in valleys should weaken late Thursday evening, while Sierra ridges continue to gust in the 70-90 mph range overnight.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a Dense Smoke Advisory in place until 11:00 a.m. Monday. Widespread smoke and haze issues will continue much of this week. Warm temperatures are expected through Thursday then a cold front will drop readings back to near or even below normal for the upcoming weekend. Increased winds could bring fire weather concerns through the week, but especially Thursday and Friday. A few light showers possible in northeastern California Friday and Saturday according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno.

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Another hot and dry day at the Fork Fire today but the incoming increase in winds from the southwest are a concern to firefighters. The winds will start Sunday and could last until Tuesday. The fire is now measured at 1,736 acres and has a containment line around seven percent of the fire.

As ashes fell delicately from a blazing orange sky earlier this week, Lake Tahoe got a jarring glimpse of just one of the threats of the climate crisis. The frequency and intensity of wildfires in the West are breaking records and destroying communities. Scientists are also measuring wilder weather patterns, more severe droughts, and changing ecosystems as the planet’s temperature rises. More drought means more dead trees, and hotter summers mean a longer and more
severe fire season.

Liberty Utilities does not anticipate implementing a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) for its customers in the Sierra. PG&E to the west of Lake Tahoe has implemented PSPSs and there was concern of Liberty customers that the same would happen around Lake Tahoe.

Below is what was posted to the Liberty Utilities social media channels and on our website. The weather situation and conditions are being monitored very closely and the public will be informed should things change.