red flag

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Mark Twain said "the air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious," and this week that air will be colder than it has been. There is a little bit of everything in the five day forecast for South Lake Tahoe.

Starting Thursday, November 5, the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Lake Tahoe Basin. It will be in effect from 10:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. on Friday. The forecast gusty winds and critically dry fuels could cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has upgraded their previous warnings for the Lake Tahoe Basin. There is now a Red Flag Warning in effect Saturday, October 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

The combination of gusty winds and extremely dry fuels can cause fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity before first responders can contain them, so use extreme caution.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Lake Tahoe Basin is under Red Flag/Critical Fire Weather conditions through 11:00 p.m. Friday.

California is extremely stressed for resources and it is important for residents and guests to understand the dangers these weather conditions present.

With 70-90 mph ridge winds and low humidity values predicted Thursday night into Friday along the crest of the Sierra, any spark could easily become a catastrophic wildfire.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Lake Tahoe Basin from 1:00 p.m. Thursday, September 17 to 11:00 p.m. Friday. Earlier this week they issued a Fire Weather Watch for the region but that has now been upgraded to a Fire Weather Warning. There is also a Lake Wind Advisory in place and the Dense Smoke Warning expires Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m.

UPDATE 10:30AM 9/9: The Fork Fire is now measured at 2,500 acres. It continues to burn in the Crystal Basin/Gerle Creek area, 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines.

UPDATE 7:30PM: The Fork Fire in the Pacific Ranger District is 15 miles northeast of Pollock Pines. It is now 500 acres with 0 percent containment and is spreading toward the 2014 King Fire burn scar in the Rubicon drainage on the Georgetown Ranger District.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno has changed their previous Fire Weather Watch to a Red Flag Warning for Tuesday, September 8 from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

They have also issued a Special Weather Statement and a Lake Wind Advisory for Tuesday from 3:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Red Flag Warning

This warning is in place due to gusty winds and low humidity for the Lake Tahoe Basin, Western Lassen, Eastern Plumas, Eastern Sierrs, and Eastern Nevada Counites. Fire Zone 271 and Fire Zone 272.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As tourists fill the Lake Tahoe Basin and locals plan their holiday weekend there are rules that everyone needs to remember - no outside fires with charcoal or wood, and wear a mask.

Although people may want to take a vacation, the pandemic doesn’t so make sure you are following proper safety precautions.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a new lightning-caused fire in the upper, eastern side of Christmas Valley area Tuesday afternoon. Crews were at the scene quickly and there is also helicopter support.

Crew 45 from the USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and Zephyr Crew 21 are at the remote scene near Luther Spires.

A single-tree caught on fire as did a 30x30 foot square of brush.

Smoke is visible from Alert Tahoe cameras.

A second, smaller fire on Ward Peak, along with Monday's fire on Luther Pass are out, and were kept to less than 1/10 acre.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Unstable conditions will exist to start off the week with a Red Flag Warning until 11:00 a.m. Monday. The forecast is on track for thunderstorms chances through Tuesday as moisture leftover from tropical storm Genevieve moves northward through the region.

There are no thunderstorms in the forecast Wednesday through Saturday and afternoon breezes look to be on the lower-end of the spectrum. Afternoon temperatures should trend down to near normal by midweek but may start to trend warmer next weekend.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - In a unified move, all fire agencies around the Lake Tahoe Basin have banned all open burning utilizing wood and charcoal for the remainder of the summer, or longer if needed. This includes campgrounds with fire rings, fire pits at homes and all charcoal barbeques whether at home or at public and private facilities.

The suspension takes effect at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, August 21, 2020 and will be enforced with extinguishment and possible citations and fines.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a Red Flag Warning up for Lake Tahoe and Western Nevada for Monday, July 26 from 5:00 a.m. Temperatures will be near normal Tuesday as the ridge over the Desert Southwest strengthens. By Wednesday afternoon, an upper level trough will move through northern California, which will
subsequently increase winds across the region Wednesday-Thursday. Gusts do not look to be as strong as Monday, and in the 30-35 mph range. Dry conditions will

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Red Flag Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service in Reno for Tuesday, July 21 from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. followed by a Fire Weather Watch for Wednesday, July 22 from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

UPDATE 7:335 p.m.: Douglas County officials say the Numbers Fire has now reached 18,000 acres and is 0% contained. The recommended evacuations for the Bodie Flats and Pineview areas have been lifted. Only residents are allowed to these areas. Please drive safely, watch for emergency vehicles, and be ready for possible future instructions in an ever-changing situation.

Multiple local, state, and federal agencies continue to work on containing the fire using dozers, hand crews, and aircraft.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a Lake Wind Advisory in effect for Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, June 28. Expect winds from the west 15-25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Waves on Lake Tahoe will be 2-4 feet. Strongest winds and roughest conditions expected Saturday afternoon and evening, and then again on Sunday.

Small boats, kayaks, and paddleboards will be prone to capsizing and should remain off lake waters until conditions improve.

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Engine 344 firefighters are on scene Monday afternoon after a report of a wildfire on Lake Tahoe's east shore.

The Chimney Fire was reported at approximately 1:00 p.m. and is located on National Forest lands south of Chimney Beach near the shoreline. Firefighters have the fire surrounded and have knocked it down. It was reported to be a five-foot by 10-foot fire, said Lisa Herron, spokeswoman for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Golden Bear community in South Lake Tahoe has been at the forefront of neighborhood fire safety and their hard work has paid off. They have earned a Firewise USA® designation by the National Fire Protection Association, making them the first South Lake Tahoe community to earn this designation.

10.15.19 7:00 p.m. UPDATE: Tuesday was a productive day for firefighters. The northern ridge and southwestern corner are now contained and being patrolled. The containment lines on the eastern and southwestern sides of the fire containment lines are in progress. The hand line on the south side was extended farther northeast towards Castle Point by crews using tactical firing operations. Stronger winds from the southwest are expected late Wednesday afternoon and evening with light precipitation expected Thursday morning.

There was minimal fire activity on the Caples Fire last night due to near freezing nighttime temperatures, high relative humidity, and very light winds. The natural wind patterns from the west/southwest will continue to be good for suppression actions. Temperatures are moderate during the day and the relative humidity is low, and those nighttime conditions help with light winds and high relative humidity recovery.

CAL FIRE firefighters are staffing up and preparing for the forecasted extreme fire weather across California. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings and fire weather watches for areas of northern, central and southern California. This will likely be the strongest offshore wind event so far this season.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for the greater Lake Tahoe area from 11:00 a.m. to Sunday to 11:00 a.m. Monday and a Lake Wind Advisory until 5:00 p.m. Monday.

A strong cold front will bring southwest to west winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph beginning Sunday morning and lasting into Monday. The humidity with this front is low - minimum 8 to 18 percent Sunday afternoon, with poor recovery tonight. Minimum 15 to 25 percent early Monday.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – As we move into the warmest and driest days of summer and early fall, the threat of catastrophic wildfire increases throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. High winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation are a dangerous combination. When dangerous fire weather is forecasted, the National Weather Service may issue a Red Flag Warning.

Welcome to summer! The solstice officially arrived Friday at 8:54 a.m., welcoming in the longest day of the year. As the snowpack melts away, and the lake fills above rim, we enter the warm and dry months that we relish after winter. As Lake Tahoe’s landscape begins to dry out, wildfire danger will grow.

Our respite from the seasonal dangers of wildfire here in the basin is coming to an end. With temperatures climbing, relative humidity lowering, and afternoon winds blowing across the lake, the basin will become susceptible to wildfire.

The following is the third in a series of stories on being a community that is prepared for wildfire.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fire knows no boundaries, no city, county, or state lines, so why should those fighting the fires be limited by an unseen line? Fire chiefs across the country manage their fire departments based on need and available staff, but what happens when their resources aren't enough to fight a fire in their own backyard?

MEYERS, Calif. - Traffic through neighborhoods in the Meyers area has become unbearable to many residents as vehicles leaving South Lake Tahoe to take to side streets in an effort to circumvent Highway 50 traffic over Echo Summit.

In an effort to find solutions to a problem that keeps Meyers residents from their homes for hours at a time, a townhall-style meeting was held on Friday night.