wind

he Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT), which includes local, state and federal agencies continue to carry out prescribed fire operations this week in multiple locations around Lake Tahoe, weather and conditions permitting. Smoke may be present.

Burn areas in Lake Tahoe (size, location, responsible agency):

A) 25 acres - West side of First Creek drainage - North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
B) 20 acres - Diamond Peak Ski Resort - North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District
C) 8 acres - Champagne Rd. - North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

Visible smoke at several areas around Lake Tahoe Wednesday are from scheduled prescribed burns.

On the South Shore, smoke can be seen for miles from Oneidas Street where the U.S. Forest Service is burning 100 acres, a project they began on January 17. They do not burn all 100 acres at the same and do small amounts each day, then put the fires out before moving to the next area.

Besides Oneidas, other burn areas drawing a lot of smoke are 70 acres being burned near Thunderbird Lodge near Incline Village and 70 acres near Brockway.

Dry and cool conditions will prevail this weekend as weak high pressure moves over the region according to the National Weather Service in Reno. A weak disturbance may bring very light snow for parts of eastern California Sunday night and Monday,
but this system is trending drier. A stronger, cold storm is expected late Wednesday into Thursday, bringing more snow to the Sierra and possibly to lower elevations. There is a chance that storm could split on Thursday and not hit Tahoe at all.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

Earth’s global surface temperatures in 2017 ranked as the second warmest since 1880, according to an analysis released Thursday by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Earth's long term warming trend continued, with the average temperature last year was 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the 1951 to 1980 mean. Second only to the prior year, 2016, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York.

Winter will finally make an appearance to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada and Northern Nevada by the end of the week and even into next week as well. A much welcomed Sierra snow will be on tap, as a colder, stronger storm is set to move into the region according to the National Weather Service in Reno. This will bring the first significant snowfall to the Sierra that we`ve seen in a while.

The latest weather models continue to show a weak to moderate Atmospheric River (AR) moving into the Sierra, combining with much colder temperatures behind the cold front.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT), which includes local, state and federal agencies, may continue prescribed fire operations this week in multiple locations around Lake Tahoe, weather permitting. Smoke may be present.

A) West 1st Creek - 25 acres
B) Diamond Peak Ski Resort/Tirol Drive - 21 acres
C) Champagne Rd. - 9 acres
D) Dale Drive - 1 acres
E) South Lake Tahoe Airport - 1 acre
F) D. L. Bliss State Park - 1 acre
G) Burton Creek State Park - 30 acres
H) Sugar Pine Point State Park - 7 acres
I) Big Meadow - 100 acres
J) Brockway, Kings Beach - 50 acres

Weather permitting, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) may conduct prescribed fire operations this week on the north end of Lake Tahoe. Smoke may be present.

In the picture:

A) 25 acres on west side of 1st Creek Drainage
B) 21 acres at Diamond Peak Ski Area
C) 9 acres at end of Chamapgne Road
D) 1 acre on Dale Drive

A map with project locations and details is available for viewing at http://www.tahoefft.org.

Temperatures are well above normal in Lake Tahoe and there is no snow in sight, for now. The highs will be in the 50s and will be close to record breaking.

There is a persistent ridge of high pressure along the West Coast, preventing major storms from breaking through and bringing snow to Lake Tahoe. Expect things to not change through New Year's Day, but there is some hope for precipitation at the end of next week.

A front will drop down near Susanville this weekend, but nothing is expected further south, but temperatures will drop a couple of degrees.

The following are the 78 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances responded to from Dec. 11 - Dec. 19, 2017.

12/11

00:24 - 1500 block of Black Bart Ave - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
09:17 - 900 block of Modesto Ave - Public service assistance, other
15:18 - 400 block of Ala Wai Blvd - Smoke detector activation, no fire unintentional
15:21 - 1300 block of Johnson Blvd - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
15:20 - 3600 block of Spruce Ave - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury

Two homes in South Lake Tahoe were damaged Saturday evening after trees fell onto them as the area was under a high wind advisory. Both homes are located near Heavenly Mountain Resort.

While snow is falling along the southern part of the U.S. from Texas to Virginia, Lake Tahoe is experiencing a high pressure system with dry conditions with valley inversions, cold nights and light winds for the next 10 days. Daytime highs will be 5-8 degrees above average, and the overnight lows will be below average.

Air stagnation forecast from limited mixing and light winds which will promote hazy skies and potential air quality issues under the 5,000 foot level.

Highs in the low-50s, lows under 20 is in the forecast from the National Weather Service in Reno:

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks, weather permitting. Lake Valley, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service will conduct prescribed fire operations in multiple areas around Lake Tahoe. Smoke may be present.

A. Airport East - 1 acre
B. West 1st Creek - 25 acres
C. Diamond Peak Ski Area - 23 acres
D. Champagne Rd - 9 acres
E. Dale Drive - 1 acre
F. Cave Rock Area - 5 acres
G. Upper Kingsbury - 3 acres

After taking a break during the Thanksgiving holiday, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) resume prescribed fire operations next week, beginning Monday, November 27, 2017, weather permitting.

North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, California State Parks and the California Tahoe Conservancy will conduct prescribed fire operations above Incline Village, D.L. Bliss and Burton Creek state parks and near the airport in South Lake Tahoe. Smoke may be visible.

North of the CSLT Airport, Southwest of the Sierra Tract Subdivision - 8 acres
Hwy 89 / Lester Beach Road - 8 acres

There is a chance of rain in Lake Tahoe Monday and next weekend, but all is sunny and clear for Thanksgiving. Will be wet travel days if heading north, dry in the south! No snow in the seven day forecast for the Sierra.

A warm and weak system will bring light rain and very high elevation snow to portions of northeast California and northern Nevada into tonight before drier weather returns through at least Wednesday night. A low chance for light rain and very high elevation snow returns late in the week. Mild temperatures are expected Tuesday through the rest of the week.

The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch and a wind advisory for Douglas County through late Friday night on November 16, 2017. Douglas County Emergency Management is preparing for changing flood conditions and the safety of Douglas County residents. Updates will be posted to http://www.douglascountynv.gov/AlertCenter.aspx

Today, the Sierra Club released a new report showcasing 10 U.S. cities that have made ambitious commitments to be powered with 100 percent clean, renewable energy like wind and solar. View the report: https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/blog/RF100-CaseStudies_2017.pdf

This is the second annual case studies report from Ready For 100, a Sierra Club campaign launched in 2016 working in cities across the United States, including South Lake Tahoe, to accelerate a just and equitable transition to 100 percent clean energy.

Lake Valley, North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service will continue Lake Tahoe Basin prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks, weather permitting. Operations are scheduled to take place at or near D.L. Bliss State Park, Carnelian Bay, Kings Beach, Incline Village, Diamond Peak Ski Resort area, Glenbrook, upper and lower Kingsbury Grade and south and east of the Lake Tahoe Airport.

South Shore

The Sierra is at average precipitation for this date, below last year's epic winter at this time, but its still early. Will a storm system heading to Lake Tahoe be enough to put those totals higher?

Probably not this storm. It brings with it strong winds but not much snow or rain.

Is the snow blower tuned up and full of gas? Have you replaced that broken shovel from last year? Did you get your snow tires on your car? Is the outdoor furniture put away or covered?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions you've most likely been paying attention to the weather reports that snow is on the way to Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – California State Parks will kick off the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) fall prescribed fire program next week beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2017. If conditions are favorable, prescribed fire operations will take place in D.L. Bliss State Park on the southwest end of Lake Tahoe. This operation was originally scheduled for earlier this month, but was delayed due to resource needs elsewhere.

65 acres of understory in the area will be burned and it is expected to take one week to complete the job.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A quick moving system is passing over Lake Tahoe Friday morning.

The road and weather report:

California Highway Patrol (CHP) is reporting an accident just east of Old Meyers Grade on Highway 50. At about 6:20 a.m., a big rig and vehicle collided, vehicle is off the road. Tow trucks are on the way and it is unknown if there are any injuries at this time.

CHP is also reporting a big rig blocking SR-89 north of Luther Pass as of 7:00 a.m.

Before that question can be answered, we need to understand what a mega fire is. To be a mega fire it needs to meet these five points:

1. Starts near or in a high fire danger area during approaching or actual red flag conditions,
2. Escapes the initial attack,
3. Develops into a campaign fire covering a large area,
4. Requires thousand of firefighters and extensive additional resources to bring final containment,
5. Often cause huge property and other cultural losses in addition to vegetation destroyed.

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.

Overnight fire conditions were very active on several fronts forcing additional
evacuations across Northern California. Firefighters are battling 22 large
wildfires that have burned nearly 170,000 acres. Firefighters are bracing for
the winds to shift this evening and increase in speed. 17 people are confirmed
to have died in the wildfires this week. 11 people alone died in the Tubbs Fire,
making it the 6th deadliest fire in our state’s history.
While damage assessment continues on all the fires, it is estimated that at