Emergency Operations Center opened for South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The CalFIRE, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, and Lake Valley Fire are currently in Unified Command with direction from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to respond to various life and safety requests. El Dorado County and the City of South Lake Tahoe are working together to address the current emergency the area is facing due to a rain-on-snow event.

El Dorado County sent out an emergency alert on Wednesday evening, asking residents to contact them if they felt their roofs were compromised and they had no ability or means to get the snow removed. Forms were sent out on Thursday to the almost 800 residents who responded. Here is the link where residents can submit information about concerns regarding their homes.

The County is focusing first on critical government infrastructure and will move to the triaged list of almost 800 to help with roof snow removal. Support has been sent into the Lake Tahoe Basin from the State to help with those needs.

The City of South Lake Tahoe activated a virtual EOC on March 9 at 11 a.m. following the issuance of the Local Emergency Proclamation. The EOC facilitates the seamless intergovernmental agency coordination that is necessary to ensure the public’s safety when responding to an emergency situation.

“The City of South Lake Tahoe activated the EOC to be able to respond quickly and have efficient communication with our local, state, and federal agencies. Over the past week, we have proactively taken steps to prepare for the upcoming storm with our partner agencies, but activating the EOC, along with the Emergency Proclamation, ensures we have timely access to all resources as they are needed,” stated Fire Chief Jim Drennan, EOC Operations Section Chief.

Sign up for emergency alerts with the County HERE, and the City HERE. If you did not receive the County's alert about roof loads Wednesday night you are not signed up.

Snow is forecast Thursday into early evening, with temperatures warming overnight, causing rain to replace that snow. Snow levels Friday are just above lake level.

This first phase of the storm this evening through Friday night still holds the potential for 3-7" of the liquid equivalent for the eastern Sierra/Tahoe areas (highest end of the range near the crest). The four-day forecast from National Weather Service in Reno for South Lake Tahoe:

Tonight - Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 7 pm. The rain could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. Snow level 6600 feet rising to 8600 feet after midnight. Low around 32. Windy, with a southwest wind of around 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.

Friday - Rain before 1 pm, then rain and snow. The rain could be heavy at times. Some thunder is also possible. The snow level is 7500 feet lowering to 6500 feet in the afternoon. High near 41. Windy, with a southwest wind of 20 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible.

Friday Night - Rain and snow. Snow level 6800 feet. Low around 28. Breezy, with a southwest wind of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. A new snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible.

Saturday - Rain and snow, becoming all rain after 10 am. Snow level 6600 feet. High near 42. Breezy, with a southwest wind of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch is possible.

Saturday Night - Rain and snow. Snow level 6500 feet. Low around 28. The southwest wind is around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. A new snow accumulation of around an inch is possible.

Sunday - Rain and snow likely, becoming all rain after 10 am. Snow level 6500 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. The southwest wind is around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.

Sunday Night - Rain and snow likely, becoming all snow after 4 am. Snow level 6500 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 27. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch is possible.

Monday - Snow likely before 7 am, then rain and snow likely between 7 am and 10 am, then rain after 10 am. The snow level is 6500 feet rising to 7100 feet in the afternoon. Cloudy, with a high near 44.

Monday Night - Rain before 10 pm, then rain and snow between 10 pm and 4 am, then snow likely after 4 am. The snow could be heavy at times. Snow level 7100 feet lowering to 6600 feet after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 26. Breezy.