Weather

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's that time of year once again when Christmas Tree permits go on sale at local Forest Service offices. With a limit of 2,00 permits there is no telling when they'll sell out.

Starting November 14, 2018, The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will begin selling the $10 permits on a first-come, first-served basis. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar trees up to six inches in diameter (at the base) in designated cutting areas.

The Nevada Department of Transportation has wrapped up the first in a series of overnight full road closures on State Route 28 ahead of schedule.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Authorities are concerned with the forecast of gusty winds and low humidity in the Lake Tahoe area on Sunday, prompting the issuance of both a Lake Wind Advisory and Fire Weather Watch for much of the day.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Lake Wind Advisory for Lake Tahoe from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and a Fire Weather Watch from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Does this bus look any different than your usual school bus? Well it is. The little turquoise bird above the door with the electric cord tells all. It is an all electric bus!

Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) received a grant earlier this year to purchase two electric school buses. Tuesday was the first test drive of the production vehicle and we expect a few more test drives this winter If all goes well LTUSD expects to have the two buses in service by next school year.

A mild pattern with above average afternoon temperatures will continue through next week for northeast California and western Nevada, including Lake Tahoe. A weak low pressure system moved across the region Sunday and and Monday. Late next week, low pressure moving into the Pacific Northwest may bring some increase in winds and clouds.

The average temperature for this week is 59-61.

The forecast from the National Weather Service Reno:

Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 65. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph. Average temperature is

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Weather and conditions permitting, California State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service may conduct prescribed fire operations in Sugar Pine Point State Park on the West Shore and near Twin Peaks on the South Shore beginning today, October 17, 2018. Smoke will likely be present.

A) Along lakeside of Hwy 89, north of General Creek, 17 acres of understory will be burned by California State Parks. Duration of ignition and smoke production is one week with smoke expected to travel northeast.

Caltrans is alerting motorists to anticipate delays on a section of State Route 89 for the next several weeks as culverts along the highway are removed and replaced.

Work started Monday on Highway 89 between Truckee and Squaw Valley to replace the drainage pipes. Granite Construction is the contractor and will work weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., weather permitting, under one-way reversing traffic control with flaggers. Motorists should anticipate delays of up to 15 minutes.

The work involves removing and replacing six culverts and making improvements to three others.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Originally planned to wrap up this week, work on the large construction project along US 50 will continue until the end of October, weather permitting.

Expect lane closures along the road (also known as Lake Tahoe Blvd.) near Winnemucca Avenue to Silver Dollar Avenue. No detours will be in place. Expect heavy traffic and delays.

Grinding and paving work was completed on Friday, October 5. Caltrans and its contractors are working hard to finish this stretch of the new storm drain system project.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) would like to remind residents and contractors that the annual grading and digging season for permitted projects will end on Monday, October 15, after which all construction sites must be appropriately winterized.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The first in a series of overnight full road closures on State Route 28 south of Incline Village will take place Oct. 29-31 as the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) installs bridges on the State Route 28 shared used path.

On April 18, 2017 the South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously passed a resolution to do two things: Power the South Lake Tahoe community with electricity provided from 100 percent renewable sources by 2032; and reduce community carbon emissions from baseline by at least 80 percent by 2040. The 100% Renewable Committee was formed to help the City accomplish these tasks.

An unsettled weather pattern and further cooling looks likely for the upcoming week in Lake Tahoe with the best chances for rain from Tuesday through Thursday.

The National Weather Service in Reno (NWS RENO), dry conditions will prevail today through most of Monday, with areas of mid-high level cloud cover especially on Monday ahead of the next low pressure system approaching the California coast. There is a complex weather scenario setting up for Tuesday-Wednesday

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be two public workshops hosted by Liberty Utilities, one on each the north and south shore, to provide information about the utility's new de-energization plan during emergencies.

Since July 2018, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires utilities to develop a plan to shut off power only as a last resort and
for a good reason in order to protect public safety.

Liberty's workshops will be to share information and answer questions about their plans. The two opportunities for the workshop are as follows:

Monday, October 8 @ 10:00 a.m.

A fall tradition in Lake Tahoe, Camp Richardson Historic Resort and Marina’s Oktoberfest returns for its 24th year Oct. 6-7, and it's back with more of everything. More food choices, beverages, and kids’ activities are lined up for the two-day festival that runs 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Entrance and parking for the event are free. All festival tickets for food and beverage booths, pumpkin patch and kids’ inflatable activities must be purchased with cash at the ticket booths.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fall is just around the corner (it starts in one week) and the mild days and cooler nights are a sign of its arrival.

The red flag warnings and lake wind advisories have expired and winds will return to more typical afternoon breezes with temperatures near normal for mid-September.

Dry conditions prevail with near normal temperatures through next week.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 71. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Due to extremely dry vegetation and very high fire danger, recreational target shooting is prohibited in the Eldorado National Forest until at least October 9, 2018. In the Lake Tahoe Basin, it is not prohibited but they suggest those wishing to target shoot go to one of the legal ranges in Carson City or Gardnerville for safety reasons.

The Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada area will see dry conditions, warm days and chilly nights through Monday. The pattern will change Tuesday as low pressure moves into the Pacific Northwest. This will lead to gusty winds Tuesday to Thursday with critical fire weather conditions likely along with impacts to boating on area lakes, and air and ground travel along the Sierra Front. Get ready for jacket weather as the the first taste of autumn temperatures kicks in for the second half of next week.

Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

As of Wednesday afternoon, 4,142 acres are burning between the North Fire, Sliger Fire and Boot Fire.

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.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In the coming week, Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada will see temperatures near average with a few degrees of cooling possible for the early part of next week. Dry conditions and typical breezes are expected through Saturday evening with breezy winds and critical fire weather concerns increasing for Sunday as a dry trough approaches the region. No precipitation is expected for the next week.

Expect widespread haze from Northern California fires.

The forecast from the National Weather Service:

A new chapter for Lake Tahoe Community College started Thursday, 32 years after ground broke on the South Lake Tahoe campus, moving the school from an old motel into a new home on Al Tahoe Blvd. Construction is now complete on the $5.8M Lisa Maloff University Center and the doors are open, ready to welcome students enrolled in upper division classes with Sierra Nevada College, Brandman University and Washington State.

On August 16, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to officially open the center, located adjacent to Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC).

While staying above normal, temperatures will cool down slightly over the weekend and early next week, espcially in the record breaking areas of Reno and Carson City. Areas of smoke and haze will continue to degrade air quality, especially north and east of the Donnell Fire. There will be a slight chance of thunderstorms well south of Highway 50 this weekend with chances increasing and spreading farther north next week.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

A number of fires across northern and eastern California continue to bring hazy conditions and degraded air quality to northeast California, the Sierra, and western Nevada. According to the National Weather Service in Reno, areas at greatest risk for unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality are from Sonora Pass to South Lake Tahoe and Carson City.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Friday morning started off clear and sunny, but by mid-morning smoke from from several California fires filled the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The smoke Friday has been a combination of the Carr Fire, the Mendocino Complex fires (Ranch Fire and River Fire) and the two western El Dorado County fires according to the USFS office in South Lake Tahoe. The Whaleback Fire and Ferguson Fire are also burning north and south of the lake.