Dense Smoke Advisory for Lake Tahoe through Friday at minimum

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After one day of blue skies above Lake Tahoe, smoke once again has filled the Basin. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno, the smoke is from multiple fires including the Fork Fire west of Lake Tahoe which sent some smoke into Emerald Bay on Wednesday.

NWS Reno has just issued a Dense Smoke Advisory which is in effect now through Friday at 5:00 p.m. due to the smoke moving into the area faster than previously forecast.

Light southwest winds are currently pushing smoke from multiple ongoing California wildfires into the region now and is forecast to settle in area valleys for Friday morning. The poor conditions are expected to last through Friday.

As of 2:45 p.m. in South Lake Tahoe, the air quality is in the unhealthy range at
an AQI Index of 170.

The affected areas include the Greater Lake Tahoe Area, Greater Reno-Carson City-Minden Area, Greater Western Nevada Basin and Range including Pyramid Lake, Northern Washoe County, Surprise Valley California, and Lassen-Eastern Plumas-Eastern Sierra Counties.

Expect unhealthy air quality and reduced visibility, and depending on wildfire activity, smoke may impact air quality through the weekend.