avalanche

As one storm leaves Lake Tahoe, the next one is waiting to enter, and forecasters say the new one could dump up to two feet of snow at lake level over the next two days.

A winter weather advisory remains in effect until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday morning when the winter storm warning starts, and stays in place until 4:00 a.m. Thursday, January 5.

Expect widespread snow showers throughout the day on Tuesday, with snow becoming heaving at time this afternoon and all day Wednesday.

3::45 p.m. update: The Kings Beach man killed in an accident at Northstar has been identified as 35-year-old Dennis Baltimore, a ski instructor at the resort. His Facebook page says he was also once a Zipline Guide at Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe.

According to reports, Baltimore had been on his skis on Village Run about 12:00 p.m. when a snowboarder in front of him hit a patch of ice and lost control. He tried to avoid the snowboarder but he crashed into rocks and a creek bed.

South Lake Tahoe native Zach McAllister passed away unexpectedly on November 12, 2016. His bright smile and beautiful soul will be deeply missed by his family and friends. His passing has left a huge hole in each of our hearts.

When Krysinthia White’s team, 20 Percent Survival, completed the MedWAR Tahoe Challenge at the Taylor Creek Sno-Park, they knew it was not a first place finish. Yet they were still smiling after six flat tires, a bee sting, and multiple wrong turns.

“From our perspective, last place was the best place,” says White. “We had the entire lake [Fallen Leaf] to ourselves and pretty much the entire trail.”

20 Percent Survival is one of ten teams of wilderness enthusiasts and medical responders who participated in the inaugural MedWAR Tahoe Challenge on Saturday, September 17.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

5/22
7:13 p.m. - Grand Theft - Tionontati St - HEAVENLY AVALANCHE RESCUE DOG POSSIBLY STOLEN FROM UNSECURED BACKYARD.

5/23
3:12 p.m. - Missing Person - Elks Club Rd - R/P REPORTED A MISSING PERSON.

5/24

Don’t miss one of most talked-about community events of the year on Saturday, April 2 at the Hard Rock Casino & Hotel from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The annual Heavenly Ski Patrol Fundraiser Party is a local favorite, combining activities, entertainment and food all in an effort to give back to local organizations that make our community a better place to live and play.

It is slow going over Echo Summit this morning with reported delays of up to an hour. As you can see on the photos here, once past the Meyers chain controls it is much smoother moving.

As of 11:45 a.m. Sunday:

Highway 50 - Chains or 4WD with snow tires from 3 miles east of Kyburz to Meyers

State Route 89 is closed at Emerald Bay. Chains are required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from Picketts Junction to Christmas Valley. Chains required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires from 5 miles north of the Y to Emerald Bay.

12:30 p.m. update February 18:

The sun is coming out over Lake Tahoe after a quick moving storm left over two feet of snow at the upper elevations, one foot at lake level.

Chain controls remain at this time, with chains are required on all vehicles except 4WD with snow tires on all 4 wheels from Meyers to Twin Bridges.

With the massive traffic jam created by travelers trying to get out of South Lake Tahoe during the snowstorm January 31, several options have been discussed to prevent a repeat, especially with a large holiday crowd this weekend.

The following is the ski, snowboard and weather report for Thursday, February 4, 2016 for South Lake Tahoe brought to you by Lake Tahoe SkiBum.

Weather - South Lake Tahoe will have a high of 39 and a low tonight of 15. Today: Partly sunny, with a high near 39. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. East wind around 5 mph.

The following is the ski, snowboard and weather report for Saturday, January 30, 2016 for South Lake Tahoe brought to you by Lake Tahoe SkiBum.

Winter Storm Warning until 10:00 a.m.

Weather - South Lake Tahoe will have a high of 36 and a low tonight of 18. Today: Snow. High near 36. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible. Tonight: RSnow. Low around 18. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Reporter Austyn Harrington covers Heavenly Mountain Resort's Ski with a Ranger Program, speaks with forecasters of Sierra Avalanche Center to learn about the importance of avalanche awareness and safety, and Willy Mac's donation needs for surgery at S.F.A.R.

If Carson May, the missing Sugar Bowl ski instructor, is not found by the end of the day Tuesday, the Placer County Sheriff's Office will suspend the search.

The 23-year-old went missing on January 15 during white-out conditions at the resort.

Search and Rescue teams from several agencies and states have conducted intensive searches with avalanche dogs, helicopters and on the ground.

Conditions during the five days of searching have been treacherous due to frequent heavy snow and the associated risks that high avalanche danger poses to the many search and rescue volunteers.

The following is the ski, snowboard and weather report for Monday, January 18, 2016 for South Lake Tahoe brought to you by Lake Tahoe SkiBum.

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 10:00 a.m. Monday.

The ski resorts are welcoming new snow as a storm that passed through left behind up to 15 inches of it behind on the slopes. Crews are cleaning up the roads around the lake with many controls in place.

There is an avalanche warning for slopes steeper than 30 degrees. Human triggered avalanches are likely and natural avalanches are possible according to the National Weather Service.

As of 9 a.m., chain controls are up on Highway 50 over Echo Summit, requiring all cars to have chains unless 4WD with snow tires on all four wheels from 3 miles east of Kyburz to Meyers.

The Caltrans Avalanche Team was at Echo Summit Monday for a routine test on their Gazex system which is in place on the mountain.

A message went out on twitter for those that follow @TahoeRoads, advising people of a loud bang that would happen. "if you hear a loud bang in a few minutes, it's not NYE again," the tweet said. "Caltrans testing avalanche control cannon off Hwy 50."

There is a video attached to this story that shows a demonstration on how this sytem works for avalanche control. The chambers of the Gazex remotely shoot compressed air into the snow.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department is accepting applications for the 2016 Winter session of STAT: South Tahoe Action Teams.

This program is designed to incorporate trained citizens in the field with the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and other first responders during times of crisis.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has announced the release of a new tool for those who enjoy backcountry travel in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada.

Since weather patterns in the mountains can change quickly, those in the backcountry need to be prepared, and there is now a webpage dedicated to year-round Sierra Nevada travel.

As part of their mission to give back to the community and protect the environment, Vail Resorts gave away 49 grants to Lake Tahoe area groups during a ceremony on Tuesday at Heavenly Valley.

Wintertime in Tahoe means skiing and snowboarding for visitors and locals alike. Few other places on earth have the abundance of snow sports opportunities that we enjoy in the Tahoe basin. With all the excitement and fun, we can sometimes forget the few simple measures that can help us prevent the occasional, but largely avoidable injuries.

Consider the following when you’re headed out to your favorite resort so that your après ski plans do not include a trip to the ER.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is asking for public input on the proposed Homewood Mountain Resort 20-year Ski Slope Permit. The permit would allow Homewood to continue to provide downhill skiing and snowboarding opportunities on the recently acquired Quail Lake parcel.

The Forest Service purchased the Quail Lake parcel from Homewood Mountain Resort in 2009. Prior to the purchase, the parcel was used for skiing and snowboarding along with Homewood’s grooming operation.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A 43-year-old Utah woman who survived an avalanche says she felt a 'strange serenity' while trapped under the snow before she went unconscious.Elisabeth Malloy suffered frost ...

SNOQUALMIE PASS, Wash. (AP) - Steve Hamill first ventured into the backcountry three years ago, drawn by a desire to be in the woods during the winter. But it was an unnerving encounter with a smal...

A search for missing snowboarder Corey Hoffman ended this morning when the Douglas County Sheriff's Office was contacted by a family member who informed them that Hoffman had phoned his father and advised he had spent the night at Horizon Casino Resort.

Deputies contacted Corey at the Stagecoach Lodge where he had proceeded to, and according to him he was unaware of the search for him. After a lengthy interview with Corey and his brother who had reported him missing, we are unable to determine exactly what transpired.