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Truckee-Tahoe Travel Alert

Updated for September 16-19, 2024

It's starting to feel like fall this week! We've got cooler temps with a chance of showers and snow in the higher elevations for the start of the week. This weekend is looking sunny and clear. ‍ ‍ Tahoe National Forest increased fire restrictions beginning Aug 1, 2024. Under increased restrictions all campfires, smoking, shooting and charcoal BBQs are prohibited on Tahoe National Forest lands and recreation areas.

Legacy Trail Closures

Construction will resume on the Truckee River Legacy Trail as part of the Town of Truckee's ongoing 2024 Paving and Drainage Project. Over the next few weeks, segments of the Legacy Trail will be closed on selected dates to accommodate crews performing preparation and paving work with heavy equipment.

  • Closure Dates :   September 16-17, September 20, September 23-26
  • No Through Access: During the closure dates, there will be no through passage between Glenshire and town.
  • Weekend Access: The entire Legacy Trail will be open and accessible on weekends.
  • Trail Segments Near Work Zones: These segments will remain open, but users should heed posted signs and exercise caution around work areas.

Weather, Conditions & Roads

View Truckee's weather forecast, National Weather Service alerts, live traffic cams, wildfire cams, highway information, and more on our Weather, Roads, Cams page.

  • Air Quality :  Get Truckee's official air quality index (AQI) forecast and current readings
  • Roads & Construction : Current Truckee roads, Highways & Construction updates blog
  • Webcams : Real-time look at Truckee-Tahoe area

Truckee-Tahoe Air Quality

See official air quality index (AQI) forecast and current readings from Air Quality Reading (AirNow)

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Getting Around Truckee

Current fire bans in truckee, travel guides, leave no trace & trash info, sustainable truckee gift cards, emergency notification system, e-newsletter signup.

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2024 Fire Season Restrictions

Cold water hazards and safety.

It’s warming up in the lower elevations, but keep in mind Lake Tahoe area lakes, rivers, and streams are still icy cold! Plan ahead and learn how to stay safe around cold water at weather.gov/safety/coldwater

Lake Link, South Shore’s on-demand shuttle service

Lake Link with Service area

Tahoe Boating Safety

Boat like a tahoe pro: video improves safety, recreation.

Get Ready for an Endless Paddle Summer

Your One-Stop Planning Resource for Paddling On Lake Tahoe Maps • Weather • Access • Rentals & Tours • Safety Info:  https://laketahoewatertrail.org/

Bike Trails and Resources

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From heart-pounding downhills to smooth paved paths, there are rides for every level of cyclist, mountain biker, and cruiser for biking in South Lake Tahoe. Discover biking trails in Lake Tahoe…

Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to explore the destination on two wheels through the South Shore’s comprehensive bike trail network. It’s good for you and the environment. For  route planning  check out the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition’s  interactive bike map . For Mountain Biking Trails go to  https://tamba.org/trails/

Bike Tips and Safety   ( Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition )

1. Keep your bike properly maintained. Before the beginning of your ride make certain your brakes and gears work properly and your tires are inflated. Carry along a spare tire tube and patch kit, know how to use it, and have an air pump in the event of a flat tire.

2. Wear a helmet. It’s a great way to stay safe for anyone riding a bicycle, and in California it’s the law for anyone under 18.

3. Ride in the same direction as traffic flow. Riding against the traffic direction is not only illegal, it’s highly dangerous. Motorists are less less likely to see you in time to avoid a collision, and the higher speed of any collision is more likely to cause you serious or fatal injuries.

4. Stop at all stop signs and red traffic lights. You and the bicycle are a vehicle with the same rights and responsibilities as an automobile. Obey all traffic laws.

5. Use proper hand signals when turning, stopping, or changing lanes. This alerts other road users of your intentions.

6. Ride in a straight line and in a single file. When we’re riding a bike, we all want drivers to avoid hitting us. Help drivers predict where you will be: ride in a straight line. Many roads do not have enough width to safely ride side by side so ride in single file and be safe.

7. Be seen: use lights  (white in front and red in back), reflectors, and reflective clothing during darkness. Both California and Nevada state law require lights and reflectors while bicycling at night. Be seen and be safe.

8. Ride to the right if you are moving slower than other traffic ,  unless you are turning left, passing another bicycle or vehicle, or avoiding hazards.

9. Do not impair your senses. Wearing headphones on both ears or riding your bike while under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts you and others are risk. People riding bikes are still subject to DUI citations.

10. Walk your bike when using a crosswalk.

Pedestrian safety

According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department excess speed, poor lighting, crossing outside crosswalks and impairment are the main factors that lead to a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

• Obey signs and signals. Try to cross at marked crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals where cars expect to see pedestrians.

• Make eye contact and nod or wave at drivers. A quick nod or wave is an easy way to let a driver know you see them, and they see you.

• Get in the habit of walking with a flashlight or wearing a reflective vest at night so it is easier for drivers to spot you.

They Belong Here: Help Keep Tahoe Bears Wild

Young Bear in a tree at Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is black bear country, and we like it that way. Our ursine locals have called this place home hundreds of thousands of years before even the Washoe Native American Tribe first stepped …

  • Lake Tahoe Press Release
  • South Tahoe Now
  • Tahoe Daily Tribune

Lake Tahoe Visitors Center

  • Explore Tahoe Visitor Center in the Heavenly Village, 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA.
  • Email  [email protected]
  • Phone (530) 542-4637, available daily, 10 am – 5 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
  • Take Care Tahoe  Lake-wide effort encourages the following tips to keep all healthy and safe while traveling.
  • Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan
  • Rules to Lake By

Lake Tahoe Travel During the Davis Fire: What You Need to Know

by Anna | Sep 9, 2024 | Featured , Lake Tahoe , Travel Tips , Visitor Guides

FIRE UPDATE:

As of September 15, 2024, the Davis Fire near Reno is now 85% contained, and the Mt. Rose Highway into and out of Reno to South Lake Tahoe is fully open. Fire crews have managed to limit the fire’s spread to 5,824 acres, with 526 personnel still working in the area.

While evacuations are being lifted, it’s crucial to remain cautious as crews and heavy equipment are still operating. There is also a forest closure in effect, and entry into these areas is not permitted​.

————————————————————————————————————————————————–

The Davis Fire has rapidly spread south of Reno, burning over 6,500 acres . Evacuations have been ordered for areas such as St. James Village , Galena , and neighborhoods south of Mount Rose Highway .

Over 12,000 residents have been evacuated. Power outages are affecting around 6,700 homes as NV Energy de-energized power lines to prevent further ignitions.

The fire started near Davis Creek Regional Park on Saturday and continues to burn without containment. Strong winds have made firefighting efforts more challenging.

Several road closures have been put in place, including parts of Mount Rose Highway and Interstate 580 . While I-580 has reopened, some ramp closures are still in effect.

The fire has already destroyed at least 14 buildings , and more flare-ups are expected due to high winds.

A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for several counties. This signals critical fire weather conditions, which may increase the fire’s spread.

Authorities urge residents to stay vigilant and closely monitor evacuation notices.

Is Lake Tahoe Affected by Smoke?

As of now, the Davis Fire has not significantly affected the air quality in Lake Tahoe , but if you’re traveling from Reno to Lake Tahoe, you may encounter smoky areas.

Wind conditions can push smoke towards certain parts of the Tahoe Basin , potentially impacting visibility and air quality, particularly in areas closer to the fire, such as Washoe Valley and near the Mount Rose Highway ​.

It’s best to check real-time air quality updates before you head out, especially for activities like hiking or biking.

Websites like AirNow.gov provide accurate air quality reports, helping you plan accordingly.

Tips for Traveling from Reno to Lake Tahoe During the Fire

If you’re planning to travel from Reno to Lake Tahoe during the Davis Fire, it’s essential to take precautions and stay informed to ensure your safety.

With road closures, smoke, and other hazards, being prepared is key.

Here are some important tips to keep in mind:

Check Road Closures : Major roads, such as I-580 and Mount Rose Highway , may experience closures or limited access. Always check current road conditions before beginning your trip.

Monitor Air Quality : Smoke can travel into the Lake Tahoe area. Keep an eye on air quality levels and limit outdoor activities if conditions worsen. Use websites like AirNow.gov for real-time updates.

Pack Essentials : If driving through affected areas, bring water, snacks, and ensure your gas tank is full, as road delays can happen unexpectedly.

Stay Updated on Evacuations : Keep up with local news and alerts regarding evacuation orders that may affect your route or destination near Lake Tahoe.

Wear a Mask : If you encounter smoky conditions, wearing an N95 mask can help protect your lungs, especially if you have respiratory issues.

Avoid Campfires : Due to the extreme fire risk, it’s best to avoid lighting campfires or barbecues while in Tahoe.

Stay Safe and Informed

In affected areas, it’s essential to stay updated on evacuation notices , road closures , and fire updates .

With winds expected to persist, staying cautious and following local authorities’ guidance is crucial. We’ll continue to provide updates as the Davis Fire progresses.

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Travel guide's warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt region into managing huge tourist crowds

Traffic moves along Tahoe Boulevard in Stateline, Nev., on Monday, July 17, 2023. Tourism officials at Lake Tahoe were surprised, and a bit standoffish, when a respected international travel guide included the iconic alpine lake straddling the California line on a list of places to stay away from this year because of the harmful ecological effects of overtourism.

Since Fodor's declared last November that “Lake Tahoe has a people problem,” some unlikely voices have expressed a new willingness to consider taxes or fees on motorists — a nonstarter not long ago.

Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line on its list of places to stay away from this year because of the harmful ecological effects of overtourism.

But with an influx of visitors and new full-time residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic already forcing local leaders to revisit the decades-old conversation about overcrowding, “Fodor's No List 2023” may have served as a wake-up call that some sort of change is necessary.

“I can’t go to my own beaches anymore,” said Susan Daniels, 70, a lifelong resident of Kings Beach, California, whose parents met at a Tahoe-area ski resort in 1952. That includes her favorite, Sand Harbor, which lies just across the Nevada border and is known for its turquoise water and rock formations. “I cannot go to Sand Harbor, where I grew up, unless I get in line at 7 in the morning.”

Meanwhile, local business and tourism officials are lining up behind a new effort to persuade people to check out less trafficked parts of the lake and to visit outside of high season.

The idea is to preserve a $5 billion local economy built around the tourists who come to hike, camp, boat, bike, ski and gamble, while also easing their impact on the environment and communities . Roughly one-third the size of the Sierra Nevada’s also-crowded Yosemite National Park, the Lake Tahoe Basin gets about three times as many visitors — around 15 million each year.

“We know that we really need to get out of the tourism marketing business and get into the tourism management business,” said Carol Chaplin, CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority.

“And that has a lot to do with the Fodor’s article, really. How are we managing our tourism?” she said. “Not that it is overtourism — I think that was a little bit shocking. But we are not denying some of that.”

This month saw the unveiling of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, a 143-page document backed by a broad coalition of more than a dozen conservation, business, governmental and private entities that prioritizes “sustainably preserving” the goose that lays the golden egg — the twinkling cobalt waters that turn blue-green near the lake’s 72 miles (115 kilometers) of shoreline.

Two years in the works and full of ideas but short on specifics, the document has as one emphasis easing traffic gridlock, which causes not only parking nightmares but increased air pollution and lake sedimentation .

The plan also considers measures adopted by other tourist destinations, such as requiring reservations, timed-entry permits and capacity limits.

But “we’re not a national park,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the nonprofit Tahoe Fund. “We don’t have gates. We’re not going to ever shut the door on folks.”

The document does not carry the weight of law, and there is no enforcement mechanism to ensure the aspirations it lays out come to fruition.

Tahoe officials have talked this way before. But they insist this time’s different.

Congestion has reached such a critical point that it’s time to adopt “user or roadway pricing to limit the vehicles in the basin and incentivize the use of public transit,” said Washoe County Commission Chairwoman Alexis Hill in Reno, Nevada, the closest major city, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of the lake.

One of an increasing number of people to take that view, Hill knows the idea that would have been dismissed out of hand a decade ago by hotels, casinos, ski resorts and other business concerns opposed to anything that might discourage visitors.

And she acknowledged it won’t be easy, especially because of the multiple jurisdictions involved, including five counties in two states, individual towns, regulators, the Coast Guard and the U.S. Forest Service.

“But honestly, I think people may have recognized we may already be getting to the point of unsustainability,” Hill said.

“When you have folks like Fodor’s say, `Don’t go to Lake Tahoe,′ that’s not good for us as a region. We need folks to visit here, but we need a system to manage them,” she said.

Lake Tahoe isn’t the only destination to grapple with how to more effectively manage visitors. Hawaii earlier this year debated, but failed to pass , a measure that would have required tourists to pay to visit state parks and trails, with revenue going to maintenance and protection.

Berry, Chaplin and others believe two key strategies for managing tourism are encouraging midweek and off-season visits and promoting hidden gems that many tourists have never seen — such as Spooner Lake, an underutilized site above the east shore where a new visitor's center and parking lot recently opened.

“There’s a lot to explore in the Tahoe Basin,” Berry said. "You know, it’s over 200,000 acres. There’s trails. There’s lakes. Lots of things to do.”

There's skepticism, however, about how easily tourists can be nudged off the beaten path.

“I don’t think it will work,” said Jason Kenneweg, 43, a longtime Reno-Sparks resident who has spent more than 25 years boating and snowmobiling at Tahoe. “They don't want to get out of their cars.”

Daniels is one of those convinced that some sort of user fee for motorists is inevitable.

"If you hit people’s pocketbook, it usually has an effect,” Daniels said.

So far, few appear to have heeded the travel guide’s suggestion that one of the world’s deepest lakes, whose contents would be enough to cover the state of California with 14 inches (35 centimeters) of water, “could use a break in order to heal and rejuvenate.”

Hotel occupancy between December and April, the height of the ski season, was up 12% from last year, Chaplin said, and that included a stretch when visitation fell off or was flat as one of the wettest winters on record snowed in neighborhoods and businesses and buried roads and highways.

The stakes are high for Tahoe's ecosystem and way of life, with some longtime residents already having left, fed up with the traffic jams, packed supermarkets and soaring housing costs.

After years of joining Daniels at public meetings to advocate for the protection of the lake, Ellie Waller finally had enough and moved to the Carson Valley, south of Reno.

“This was my husband’s dream, to live and have this the rest of our lives,” Waller said. “And at some point, we begrudgingly left it.”

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Lake Tahoe snow live updates: South impacted by severe flooding, structure collapses

KGO logo

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Sierra is gearing up for another wild few days of winter weather as a storm moves through the region, this time a combination of snow , wind and rain .

LIVE: ABC7 News coverage on California winter storm

Take a look at the graph below to check out the latest Lake Tahoe snowpack totals. The snow total refers to the entire amount of snow that's currently at each site. The median is based on the last 30 years of data for March 9 (except for Carson Pass, which only has 16 years of historical data).

Get live updates below:

Resort Closures

The following Tahoe resorts are currently closed due to severe weather:

  • Donner Ski Ranch
  • Sierra-at-Tahoe
  • Palisades Tahoe

Saturday, March 10

8 a.m. South Lake Tahoe battling severe flooding, structure collapses amid impacts of atmospheric river

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The city of South Lake Tahoe is battling severe flooding and structure collapses as the atmospheric river continues pummeling Tahoe Basin.

"What the F is going on, did you just see that? It went flump," said tourist Vicki Herbert. "I'm a little worried the roof is going to go, showmp!"

Near historic snowpack, compounded with heavy rainfall has left businesses taped up, closed down and unsafe to occupy across South Lake Tahoe.

Dramatic images show snowpack towering over the roofs of homes and businesses - as the city has tracked 500 inches of snowfall so far this season.

"That's the concern with the incoming rain coming atop that snow, we're doubling and tripling a lot of that weight," said Jim Drennan, South Lake Tahoe's fire chief.

Drennan warns that the wintry mix is a double threat.

"Is this double threat, the worst you've seen it?" ABC7's Stephanie Sierra asked.

"Yeah. We've worked through a lot of heavy winters. 2011, 2016/2017 heavy winters, but I haven't seen it this bad," Drennan said.

The heavy snow load crumbled an awning at Swiss Mart gas station along Emerald Bay Road. It's one of at least seven structures that have collapsed across the city during the storm.

"When it failed, it crashed into the gas pumps, and we had a gasoline-fed fire," said Drennan. "No injuries of any kind but that property has been red-tagged."

From tumbled structures to parking lot swamps - businesses and emergency responders have remained on high alert.

"We have lost 3/4 of our parking lot due to snow plows, keep having to stack them higher and higher," said a manager at Grocery Outlet, where a parking lot flooded.

It is a reality for the region as these snow mounts start melting, flooding out residential streets and the city's airport runway.

"I left 75 degrees in Austin, Texas," said Herbert. "I'm kind of in culture shock."

The city is cautioning against unnecessary travel for the next several weeks as the Basin struggles through the snowmelt.

"We can see landslides, mudslides," said Sheree Juarez, South Lake Tahoe's public information officer. "It's being watched carefully, so you can expect delays for a long period of time."

The city says avalanche control is in effect which could impact travel on Highway 50 and Highway 80.

Friday, March 9

8 a.m. Palisades Tahoe and Sugar Bowl announce resort closures

Due to high avalanche danger and flooding on Olympic Valley Rd. and Alpine Meadows Rd, Palisades Tahoe will not have any lift operations on Friday and base lodges are closed," the resort tweeted.

Sugar Bowl will also be closed Friday, March 10, due to extreme winds and storm conditions, the resort said.

Thursday, March 9

8 p.m. South Lake Tahoe gas station awning collapses igniting pump

The awning of a gas station in South Lake Tahoe collapsed as bands of rain and snow moved through the area. Crews say the roof at the Swiss Mart gas station took out a gas pump causing a fire but thankfully crews were able to contain the flames and no one was injured.

6 p.m. City of South Lake Tahoe activates virtual emergency operations center

The City of South Lake Tahoe activated a virtual emergency operations center on Thursday following a declaration of a local emergency due to the weather.

The city says the EOC "facilitates the seamless intergovernmental agency coordination that is necessary to ensure the public's safety when responding to an emergency."

To stay updated, visit their Facebook profile here .

Mt. Rose, Donner Ski Ranch and Sierra-at-Tahoe announce closures

More ski resorts announced closures for Friday due to the weather conditions. For more information, check to above Resort Closures list for details.

lake tahoe travel warning

5 p.m. Traffic on WB I-80 being held in two spots

Traffic is being held on westbound I-80 at the Nevada state line and in Truckee due to a big rig crash near Eagles Lake, according to Caltrans.

4:40 p.m. Chain control in effect on Hwy 50

Caltrans say chain control is in effect on Highway 50 starting at Fred's Place which sits a 4,900 feet and in Meyers.

1:30 p.m. Northstar announces Friday closure

Northstar Mountain resort announced its closure for Friday due to the current winter storms. Continued closures are still being evaluated at this time, according to the resort. Visitors can check back on its Twitter page for updates.

11:30 a.m. Heavenly to close Friday

Heavenly ski resort announced it will be closed Friday due to the incoming atmospheric river storm system. See the resort's full statement here .

11:14 a.m. No chains required yet on I-80 and Highway 50 to Tahoe

There are no chain requirements in effect for either I-80 or Highway 50 heading to Tahoe as of Thursday morning. For the latest on road conditions, visit Caltrans real-time map here .

10:01 a.m. Kirkwood Resort closed for Friday, Saturday TBD

Kirkwood Resort announced that it's closing Friday ahead of the incoming storm, and its opening on Saturday is to be determined. The resort announced: "Our team will be working everywhere we safely can just to maintain the mountain for future operations. At this time we do not know if we will be able to open on Sat Mar 11, and when we are able to operate again, expect delays to mtn ops."

8:30 a.m. Palisades Tahoe warns guests of delays and wind holds due to incoming storm

Although most of the Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows resorts opened this morning, the operations staffed warned guests of possible delays and closues due to the incoming high winds.

MORE: 4 CA ski resorts reach 600 inches of snow this season with more on the way

In a tweet , they said they currently have "50+MPH winds on the ridgelines with 75+MPH gusts." They also said winds are expected to increase through the day.

8 a.m. National Weather Service issues winter storm warning for Sierra

The NWS tweeted saying the warning a winter storm warning will be in effect from Thursday through Sunday with anywhere from 2 to 8 feet of snow possible in the area. They said mountain travel is "highly discouraged" with all people in the area to be prepared for chain controls, major travel delays, and possible road closures.

7:15 a.m. Kirkwood Resort records 8 inches of snow overnight more coming

The resort tweeted that their 24-hour snow total was 8 inches but that more was in the forecast for the evening. Like other resorts, they said guests can expect very high winds and some operations closures/delays as the storm develops.

RELATED: Incredible video roundup shows snow across CA

lake tahoe travel warning

Wednesday, March 8

12:45 p.m. City of South Lake Tahoe issues local emergency proclamation for severe winter storms

South Lake Tahoe has issued a local emergency proclamation for the incoming severe winter storms. The city manager of South Lake Tahoe said the proclamation will leverage "all available tools from local, state, and federal resources in response to potential impacts from the forecasted atmospheric river."

9:00 p.m. Heavenly Ski Resort warns all drivers that chains or 4WD with snow tires are needed to access base areas

The resort said people can expect icy roads at and on the way to their base areas and that chains or 4-wheel drive with snow tires would be needed to get access.

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Local Weather, Weather Forecast, Traffic Reports

South Lake Tahoe Warnings, Watches and Advisories

Safety and data message.

Do not drive vehicles through flooded areas. The water depth or fast flowing water/mud/debris from a flash flood will make road conditions unsafe. Do not rely soley on data presented here or other third-party websites - always check your official national and local weather service agency website, socials, radio and/or TV stations for making critical decisions related to weather events.

Please carefully read each posted Warning and Alert as it relates to the area(s) being affected. We may provide a wider range of issued severe weather warnings for surrounding cities and counties, so some alerts may not directly impact this location. This is done to help with preparing for severe weather that may overlap or be heading towards South Lake Tahoe. Use the Radar Maps link provided to understand the trajectory of a storm.

Dust Advisory

Dust advisory issued september 16 at 6:09pm pdt until september 16 at 8:15pm pdt by nws phoenix az.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a * Dust Advisory for... Western Imperial County in southeastern California... * Until 815 PM PDT. * At 607 PM PDT, a dust channel was near Westmorland, or 13 miles northwest of Brawley. HAZARD...Less than one mile visibility with strong wind in excess of 40 mph. SOURCE...Doppler radar. IMPACT...Hazardous travel. * This includes the following highways... CA Interstate 8 between mile markers 20 and 35. CA Route 78 between mile markers 4 and 31. CA Route 111 between mile markers 9 and 59. Locations impacted include... El Centro, Brawley, Imperial, Plaster City, Salton City, Holtville, Westmorland, Bombay Beach, El Centro Naval Airfield, Calipatria, Slab City, Alamorio, Seeley, Wiest, and Niland.

Wind Advisory

Wind advisory issued september 16 at 6:07pm pdt until september 17 at 12:00am pdt by nws phoenix az.

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * WHERE...Imperial Valley. * WHEN...Until midnight PDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Difficult driving conditions, especially for larger vehicles traveling along roads with crosswinds. Light, unsecured objects may become airborne.

* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. * WHERE...Southwest corner of Imperial County, and Western Imperial County. * WHEN...Until midnight PDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Difficult driving conditions, especially for larger vehicles traveling along roads with crosswinds.

Air Quality Alert

Air quality alert issued september 16 at 3:08pm pdt by nws san diego ca.

The South Coast AQMD has issued an air quality alert due to increased particle pollution from blowing dust. The air quality alert is in effect until 9 AM Tuesday. In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity. Run your air conditioner or an air purifier. If temperatures allow, avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Exposure to high particle pollution levels can cause serious health problems, including asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor's advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart disease should avoid prolonged exposure and strenuous activities when particle pollution levels are high. Levels of particle pollution can vary hour by hour and by location depending on wind conditions. For the latest air quality forecasts and information, visit the website at aqmd.gov.

The South Coast AQMD has updated an air quality alert due to increased fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke in the region. The air quality alert is in effect through 11 PM Monday for the mountains, valleys, and foothills. If you smell smoke or see ash due to a wildfire, remain indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter, if feasible. Avoid vigorous physical activity and run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Avoid burning wood in your fireplace or firepit and minimize sources of indoor air pollution such as candles, incense, pan-frying, and grilling. If you must be outdoors, keep the time brief and wear a tightly-fitted N-95 or P- 100 respirator to help reduce exposure. Limit the use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment. In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity. Run your air conditioner or an air purifier. If temperatures allow, avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and increase risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor's advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, people with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children are particularly susceptible and should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion as conditions dictate. Levels of particle pollution can vary hour by hour and by location depending on fire behavior and local weather conditions. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District website at aqmd.gov or download the mobile app at www.aqmd.gov/mobileapp. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.aqmd.gov/advisory. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District website at mdaqmd.ca.gov. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.mdaqmd.ca.gov/advisories. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the antelope Valley Air Quality Management District website at www.avaqmd.ca.gov. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District website at www.sdapcd.org/content/sdapcd/air-quality.html. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.sdapcd.org/content/sdapcd/air-quality/smoke-advisory.html For the latest air quality forecasts and information, visit the website at aqmd.gov.

The South Coast AQMD has issued an air quality alert due to increased fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke in the region. The air quality alert is in effect until 11 PM Tuesday. If you smell smoke or see ash due to a wildfire, remain indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter, if feasible. Avoid vigorous physical activity and run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Avoid burning wood in your fireplace or firepit and minimize sources of indoor air pollution such as candles, incense, pan-frying, and grilling. If you must be outdoors, keep the time brief and wear a tightly-fitted N-95 or P- 100 respirator to help reduce exposure. Limit the use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment. Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and increase risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor's advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, people with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children are particularly susceptible and should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion as conditions dictate. Levels of particle pollution can vary hour by hour and by location depending on fire behavior and local weather conditions. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District website at aqmd.gov or download the mobile app at www.aqmd.gov/mobileapp. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.aqmd.gov/advisory. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District website at mdaqmd.ca.gov. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.mdaqmd.ca.gov/advisories. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the antelope Valley Air Quality Management District website at www.avaqmd.ca.gov. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District website at www.sdapcd.org/content/sdapcd/air-quality.html. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.sdapcd.org/content/sdapcd/air-quality/smoke-advisory.html For the latest air quality forecasts and information, visit the website at aqmd.gov.

Air Quality Alert issued September 16 at 2:49PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

The South Coast AQMD has issued an air quality alert due to increased fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke in the region. The air quality alert is in effect until 11 PM Tuesday. If you smell smoke or see ash due to a wildfire, remain indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter, if feasible. Avoid vigorous physical activity and run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Avoid burning wood in your fireplace or firepit and minimize sources of indoor air pollution such as candles, incense, pan-frying, and grilling. If you must be outdoors, keep the time brief and wear a tightly-fitted N-95 or P-100 respirator to help reduce exposure. Limit the use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment. Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and increase risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor's advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, people with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children are particularly susceptible and should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion as conditions dictate. Levels of particle pollution can vary hour by hour and by location depending on fire behavior and local weather conditions. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District website at aqmd.gov or download the mobile app at www.aqmd.gov/mobileapp. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.aqmd.gov/advisory. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District website at www.avaqmd.ca.gov.

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 1:04PM PDT until September 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...Apple and Lucerne Valleys. * WHEN...Until 9 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Locally reduced visibility will occur in blowing dust.

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 1:04PM PDT until September 17 at 12:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 45 to 55 mph expected. * WHERE...San Diego County Deserts. * WHEN...Until midnight PDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Locally reduced visibility will occur in blowing dust.

* WHAT...West winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 65 mph expected. * WHERE...San Gorgonio Pass Near Banning. * WHEN...Until midnight PDT tonight. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Locally reduced visibility will occur in blowing dust.

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach hazards statement issued september 16 at 12:47pm pdt until september 17 at 3:00am pdt by nws los angeles/oxnard ca.

* WHAT...Abnormally high tides of 6.5 feet are expected with elevated surf up to 3 to 6 feet. * WHERE...Ventura County Beaches, Malibu Coast and Los Angeles County Beaches. * WHEN...From 5 PM PDT this afternoon through late tonight. * IMPACTS...There is an increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats nearshore. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...There is an increased risk of ocean drowning. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats nearshore.

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 12:45PM PDT until September 17 at 5:00AM PDT by NWS Hanford CA

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE...Indian Wells Valley, Mojave Desert, and Mojave Desert Slopes. * WHEN...Until 5 AM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Highways affected include, but are not limited to Highway 14, Highway 58, and US Highway 395.

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 9:59AM PDT until September 16 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Las Vegas NV

* WHAT...Southwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...In Arizona, Northwest Deserts and Northwest Plateau. In California, Eastern Mojave Desert and Morongo Basin. In Nevada, Lincoln County, Las Vegas Valley, Northeast Clark County, Sheep Range, Southern Clark County, and Spring Mountains-Red Rock Canyon. * WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT /8 PM MST/ this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds this strong can make driving difficult. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.

* WHAT...South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph expected. * WHERE...In California, Death Valley National Park and Western Mojave Desert. In Nevada, Esmeralda and Central Nye County and Western Clark and Southern Nye County. * WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Winds this strong can make driving difficult. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.

Wind Advisory issued September 16 at 9:51AM PDT until September 16 at 9:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA

* WHAT...West winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph expected. * WHERE...Lake Casitas, Ojai Valley, Ventura County Beaches, and Ventura County Inland Coast. * WHEN...Until 9 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

* WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * WHERE...Antelope Valley and Western Antelope Valley Foothills. * WHEN...Until 9 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

* WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph, except up to 45 mph in the Western Santa Monica Mountains * WHERE...Eastern Ventura County Valleys and Western Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area. * WHEN...Until 9 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

* WHAT...Southwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. * WHERE...Eastern Antelope Valley Foothills, Eastern San Gabriel Mountains, and Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor. * WHEN...Until 9 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.

Air Quality Alert issued September 15 at 12:52PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA

The South Coast AQMD has issued an air quality alert due to increased particle pollution from blowing dust. The air quality alert is in effect until Tuesday morning. In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity. Run your air conditioner or an air purifier. If temperatures allow, avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Exposure to high particle pollution levels can cause serious health problems, including asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor's advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart disease should avoid prolonged exposure and strenuous activities when particle pollution levels are high. Levels of particle pollution can vary hour by hour and by location depending on wind conditions. For the latest air quality forecasts and information, visit the website at aqmd.gov.

The South Coast AQMD has updated an air quality alert due to increased fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke in the region. The air quality alert is in effect Sunday and Monday for the mountains, valleys, and foothills. If you smell smoke or see ash due to a wildfire, remain indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter, if feasible. Avoid vigorous physical activity and run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Avoid burning wood in your fireplace or firepit and minimize sources of indoor air pollution such as candles, incense, pan-frying, and grilling. If you must be outdoors, keep the time brief and wear a tightly-fitted N-95 or P- 100 respirator to help reduce exposure. Limit the use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment. In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity. Run your air conditioner or an air purifier. If temperatures allow, avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and increase risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor's advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, people with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children are particularly susceptible and should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion as conditions dictate. Levels of particle pollution can vary hour by hour and by location depending on fire behavior and local weather conditions. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the South Coast Air Quality Management District website at aqmd.gov or download the mobile app at www.aqmd.gov/mobileapp. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.aqmd.gov/advisory. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District website at mdaqmd.ca.gov. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.mdaqmd.ca.gov/advisories. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the antelope Valley Air Quality Management District website at www.avaqmd.ca.gov. To view current and forecasted air quality levels, visit the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District website at www.sdapcd.org/content/sdapcd/air-quality.html. Additional details for this air quality alert may be available at www.sdapcd.org/content/sdapcd/air-quality/smoke-advisory.html For the latest air quality forecasts and information, visit the website at aqmd.gov.

Air Quality Alert issued September 15 at 8:38AM MST by NWS Phoenix AZ

The Imperial County APCD has issued an air quality alert due to increased particle pollution from blowing dust. The air quality alert is in effect Monday, September 16, 2024, from 10:00 am until midnight. In areas directly impacted by high levels of windblown dust, limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed and avoiding vigorous physical activity. Run your air conditioner or an air purifier. If temperatures allow, avoid using whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air. Exposure to high particle pollution levels can cause serious health problems, including asthma attacks, heart and lung disease symptoms, and increased risk of respiratory infections. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctor's advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart disease should avoid prolonged exposure and strenuous activities when particle pollution levels are high. To help minimize outdoor particle pollution levels: * Carpool, telecommute, reduce trips, or take public transportation * Slow down if driving on dirt roads * Stabilize loose soils Levels of particle pollution can vary hour by hour and by location depending on wind conditions. To view current and forecast air quality within Imperial County visit the Imperial County Air Quality website at http://www.imperialvalleyair.org/ or follow ICAPCD on Twitter, facebook or Instagram (@county_air).

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Lake Tahoe Weather Forecast

Home » Lake Tahoe Weather Forecast

Beauty abounds in North Lake Tahoe, and we’d like for you to enjoy it safely. Please refer to the below Lake Tahoe weather forecast and road conditions to plan accordingly.

Current Weather in lake tahoe

Today's high, today's low, weather forecast:, plan for safe travels.

North Lake Tahoe road conditions can be challenging during some seasons. Lake Tahoe’s weather greatly impacts road conditions so it’s wise to check access roads before heading out. The links below let you know when it’s safe to drive to Lake Tahoe. For real time information and live traffic updates for roads and highways, visit our Road Conditions page .

lake tahoe travel warning

California visitors can stay informed through the California Road Conditions website.

lake tahoe travel warning

Nevada visitors, including those coming from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport should check the Nevada Road Conditions website.

lake tahoe travel warning

Use the highway webcam network in either California or Nevada to see what the roads look like.

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LIVE WEATHER CAMS

Live webcams are set up all over the region, from atop the slopes to on the water. These cams stream current weather conditions in Lake Tahoe. That, and they let you enjoy one of the US’s most beautiful and inviting destinations from the comfort of your home.

lake tahoe travel warning

CURRENT SNOW REPORT

Lake Tahoe gets an average annual snowfall of 279 inches (that’s just over 23 feet!). The chart below has the latest snow report , showing if there is snow in Lake Tahoe right now, what resorts are open, the number of lifts and runs available, and the conditions to expect. For more info, contact the resorts directly.

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lake tahoe travel warning

LAKE TAHOE AIR QUALITY

In 2019, Lake Tahoe averaged an annual AQI score of 21, meeting the “good” category threshold. The US EPA defines “good” air quality as air that poses little to no risk to health. In 2021, the air quality average in the US was 43, which is still “good”, but this indicates how clean and fresh the air is in North Lake Tahoe.

Unfortunately, air quality can be affected by wildfires that impact the region. To find the latest resources as it applies to fire safety, visit our Top Fire Safety Tips blog.

lake tahoe travel warning

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The weather in Lake Tahoe offers something for everyone. Since every season is as remarkable as the next, just about any time is perfect for a visit. Check out our unique seasonal activities in the north to find all the ways you can stay and play year-round.

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A travel guide's warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt the region into managing huge tourist crowds

Lake tahoe overtourism.

SAND HARBOR, Nev. (AP) — Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line on its list of places to stay away from this year because of the harmful ecological effects of overtourism.

But with an influx of visitors and new full-time residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic already forcing local leaders to revisit the decades-old conversation about overcrowding, “Fodor's No List 2023” may have served as a wake-up call that some sort of change is necessary.

“I can’t go to my own beaches anymore,” said Susan Daniels, 70, a lifelong resident of Kings Beach, California, whose parents met at a Tahoe-area ski resort in 1952. That includes her favorite, Sand Harbor, which lies just across the Nevada border and is known for its turquoise water and rock formations. “I cannot go to Sand Harbor, where I grew up, unless I get in line at 7 in the morning.”

Since Fodor's declared last November that “Lake Tahoe has a people problem,” some unlikely voices have expressed a new willingness to consider taxes or fees on motorists — a nonstarter not long ago.

Meanwhile, local business and tourism officials are lining up behind a new effort to persuade people to check out less trafficked parts of the lake and to visit outside of high season.

The idea is to preserve a $5 billion local economy built around the tourists who come to hike, camp, boat, bike, ski and gamble, while also easing their impact on the environment and communities . Roughly one-third the size of the Sierra Nevada’s also-crowded Yosemite National Park, the Lake Tahoe Basin gets about three times as many visitors — around 15 million each year.

“We know that we really need to get out of the tourism marketing business and get into the tourism management business,” said Carol Chaplin, CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority.

“And that has a lot to do with the Fodor’s article, really. How are we managing our tourism?” she said. “Not that it is overtourism — I think that was a little bit shocking. But we are not denying some of that.”

This month saw the unveiling of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, a 143-page document backed by a broad coalition of more than a dozen conservation, business, governmental and private entities that prioritizes “sustainably preserving” the goose that lays the golden egg — the twinkling cobalt waters that turn blue-green near the lake’s 72 miles (115 kilometers) of shoreline.

Two years in the works and full of ideas but short on specifics, the document has as one emphasis easing traffic gridlock, which causes not only parking nightmares but increased air pollution and lake sedimentation .

The plan also considers measures adopted by other tourist destinations, such as requiring reservations, timed-entry permits and capacity limits.

But “we’re not a national park,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the nonprofit Tahoe Fund. “We don’t have gates. We’re not going to ever shut the door on folks.”

The document does not carry the weight of law, and there is no enforcement mechanism to ensure the aspirations it lays out come to fruition.

Tahoe officials have talked this way before. But they insist this time’s different.

Congestion has reached such a critical point that it’s time to adopt “user or roadway pricing to limit the vehicles in the basin and incentivize the use of public transit,” said Washoe County Commission Chairwoman Alexis Hill in Reno, Nevada, the closest major city, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of the lake.

One of an increasing number of people to take that view, Hill knows the idea that would have been dismissed out of hand a decade ago by hotels, casinos, ski resorts and other business concerns opposed to anything that might discourage visitors.

And she acknowledged it won’t be easy, especially because of the multiple jurisdictions involved, including five counties in two states, individual towns, regulators, the Coast Guard and the U.S. Forest Service.

“But honestly, I think people may have recognized we may already be getting to the point of unsustainability,” Hill said.

“When you have folks like Fodor’s say, `Don’t go to Lake Tahoe,′ that’s not good for us as a region. We need folks to visit here, but we need a system to manage them,” she said.

Lake Tahoe isn’t the only destination to grapple with how to more effectively manage visitors. Hawaii earlier this year debated, but failed to pass , a measure that would have required tourists to pay to visit state parks and trails, with revenue going to maintenance and protection.

Berry, Chaplin and others believe two key strategies for managing tourism are encouraging midweek and off-season visits and promoting hidden gems that many tourists have never seen — such as Spooner Lake, an underutilized site above the east shore where a new visitor's center and parking lot recently opened.

“There’s a lot to explore in the Tahoe Basin,” Berry said. "You know, it’s over 200,000 acres. There’s trails. There’s lakes. Lots of things to do.”

There's skepticism, however, about how easily tourists can be nudged off the beaten path.

“I don’t think it will work,” said Jason Kenneweg, 43, a longtime Reno-Sparks resident who has spent more than 25 years boating and snowmobiling at Tahoe. “They don't want to get out of their cars.”

Daniels is one of those convinced that some sort of user fee for motorists is inevitable.

"If you hit people’s pocketbook, it usually has an effect,” Daniels said.

So far, few appear to have heeded the travel guide’s suggestion that one of the world’s deepest lakes, whose contents would be enough to cover the state of California with 14 inches (35 centimeters) of water, “could use a break in order to heal and rejuvenate.”

Hotel occupancy between December and April, the height of the ski season, was up 12% from last year, Chaplin said, and that included a stretch when visitation fell off or was flat as one of the wettest winters on record snowed in neighborhoods and businesses and buried roads and highways.

The stakes are high for Tahoe's ecosystem and way of life, with some longtime residents already having left, fed up with the traffic jams, packed supermarkets and soaring housing costs.

After years of joining Daniels at public meetings to advocate for the protection of the lake, Ellie Waller finally had enough and moved to the Carson Valley, south of Reno.

“This was my husband’s dream, to live and have this the rest of our lives,” Waller said. “And at some point, we begrudgingly left it.”

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Winter Storm Warning in effect for Lake Tahoe Wednesday-Friday

717962-storm131.jpeg

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An atmospheric river is heading to the California coast, and even though much of the precipitation is going south and north, Lake Tahoe should see some of its effects. After a few days of warm weather, a potent winter storm will bring windy and colder conditions with periods of heavy snow to the Sierra and higher elevations of northeast California, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Reno. Winds will pick up by late Wednesday morning, then travel conditions will begin to worsen late Wednesday afternoon and evening, with the most widespread winter travel impacts likely from Wednesday evening through much of Thursday.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Friday.

Heavy snow is expected. Snow accumulations 10 to 20 inches above 7000 feet, with 20 to 30 inches near the Sierra crest. Below 7000 feet, 5 to 10 inches are expected, except up to 16 inches west of CA-89. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph, with gusts around 100 mph for Sierra ridges. Wave heights 2 to 4 feet on Lake Tahoe Wednesday and Wednesday night.

Snow at lake level is expected to be 3" - 6" over the three days.

The next atmospheric river will arrive on Sunday. This two-day storm is expected to have lower snow levels than the one arriving Wednesday and will be packing more of a punch.

The forecast from NWS Reno for South Lake Tahoe:

Wednesday - Rain likely, mainly after 4pm. Snow level 6700 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 52. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night - Rain and snow likely before 7pm, then snow likely between 7pm and 10pm, then rain and snow after 10pm. Snow level 6300 feet. Low around 26. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Thursday - Snow. High near 38. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night - Snow likely before 10pm, then snow showers likely after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday - Snow showers, mainly before 4pm. High near 33. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday Night - A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday - A chance of snow showers, mainly after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 33.

Saturday Night - A chance of snow showers before 10pm, then a chance of snow after 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15.

Sunday - Snow likely, mainly after 4pm. The snow could be heavy at times. Partly sunny, with a high near 36.

Sunday Night - Snow likely. The snow could be heavy at times. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 21.

Monday - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 36.

Monday Night - Snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 17. TuesdaySnow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35.

lake tahoe travel warning

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A travel guide’s warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt the region into managing huge tourist crowds

lake tahoe travel warning

By SCOTT SONNER and HAVEN DALEY Associated Press

SAND HARBOR, Nev. (AP) — Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line on its list of places to stay away from this year because of the harmful ecological effects of overtourism.

But with an influx of visitors and new full-time residents due to the COVID-19 pandemic already forcing local leaders to revisit the decades-old conversation about overcrowding, “Fodor’s No List 2023” may have served as a wake-up call that some sort of change is necessary.

“I can’t go to my own beaches anymore,” said Susan Daniels, 70, a lifelong resident of Kings Beach, California, whose parents met at a Tahoe-area ski resort in 1952. That includes her favorite, Sand Harbor, which lies just across the Nevada border and is known for its turquoise water and rock formations. “I cannot go to Sand Harbor, where I grew up, unless I get in line at 7 in the morning.”

Since Fodor’s declared last November that “Lake Tahoe has a people problem,” some unlikely voices have expressed a new willingness to consider taxes or fees on motorists — a nonstarter not long ago.

Meanwhile, local business and tourism officials are lining up behind a new effort to persuade people to check out less trafficked parts of the lake and to visit outside of high season.

The idea is to preserve a $5 billion local economy built around the tourists who come to hike, camp, boat, bike, ski and gamble, while also easing their impact on the environment and communities . Roughly one-third the size of the Sierra Nevada’s also-crowded Yosemite National Park, the Lake Tahoe Basin gets about three times as many visitors — around 15 million each year.

“We know that we really need to get out of the tourism marketing business and get into the tourism management business,” said Carol Chaplin, CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority.

“And that has a lot to do with the Fodor’s article, really. How are we managing our tourism?” she said. “Not that it is overtourism — I think that was a little bit shocking. But we are not denying some of that.”

This month saw the unveiling of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, a 143-page document backed by a broad coalition of more than a dozen conservation, business, governmental and private entities that prioritizes “sustainably preserving” the goose that lays the golden egg — the twinkling cobalt waters that turn blue-green near the lake’s 72 miles (115 kilometers) of shoreline.

Two years in the works and full of ideas but short on specifics, the document has as one emphasis easing traffic gridlock, which causes not only parking nightmares but increased air pollution and lake sedimentation .

The plan also considers measures adopted by other tourist destinations, such as requiring reservations, timed-entry permits and capacity limits.

But “we’re not a national park,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the nonprofit Tahoe Fund. “We don’t have gates. We’re not going to ever shut the door on folks.”

The document does not carry the weight of law, and there is no enforcement mechanism to ensure the aspirations it lays out come to fruition.

Tahoe officials have talked this way before. But they insist this time’s different.

Congestion has reached such a critical point that it’s time to adopt “user or roadway pricing to limit the vehicles in the basin and incentivize the use of public transit,” said Washoe County Commission Chairwoman Alexis Hill in Reno, Nevada, the closest major city, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast of the lake.

One of an increasing number of people to take that view, Hill knows the idea that would have been dismissed out of hand a decade ago by hotels, casinos, ski resorts and other business concerns opposed to anything that might discourage visitors.

And she acknowledged it won’t be easy, especially because of the multiple jurisdictions involved, including five counties in two states, individual towns, regulators, the Coast Guard and the U.S. Forest Service.

“But honestly, I think people may have recognized we may already be getting to the point of unsustainability,” Hill said.

“When you have folks like Fodor’s say, `Don’t go to Lake Tahoe,′ that’s not good for us as a region. We need folks to visit here, but we need a system to manage them,” she said.

Lake Tahoe isn’t the only destination to grapple with how to more effectively manage visitors. Hawaii earlier this year debated, but failed to pass , a measure that would have required tourists to pay to visit state parks and trails, with revenue going to maintenance and protection.

Berry, Chaplin and others believe two key strategies for managing tourism are encouraging midweek and off-season visits and promoting hidden gems that many tourists have never seen — such as Spooner Lake, an underutilized site above the east shore where a new visitor’s center and parking lot recently opened.

“There’s a lot to explore in the Tahoe Basin,” Berry said. “You know, it’s over 200,000 acres. There’s trails. There’s lakes. Lots of things to do.”

There’s skepticism, however, about how easily tourists can be nudged off the beaten path.

“I don’t think it will work,” said Jason Kenneweg, 43, a longtime Reno-Sparks resident who has spent more than 25 years boating and snowmobiling at Tahoe. “They don’t want to get out of their cars.”

Daniels is one of those convinced that some sort of user fee for motorists is inevitable.

“If you hit people’s pocketbook, it usually has an effect,” Daniels said.

So far, few appear to have heeded the travel guide’s suggestion that one of the world’s deepest lakes, whose contents would be enough to cover the state of California with 14 inches (35 centimeters) of water, “could use a break in order to heal and rejuvenate.”

Hotel occupancy between December and April, the height of the ski season, was up 12% from last year, Chaplin said, and that included a stretch when visitation fell off or was flat as one of the wettest winters on record snowed in neighborhoods and businesses and buried roads and highways.

The stakes are high for Tahoe’s ecosystem and way of life, with some longtime residents already having left, fed up with the traffic jams, packed supermarkets and soaring housing costs.

After years of joining Daniels at public meetings to advocate for the protection of the lake, Ellie Waller finally had enough and moved to the Carson Valley, south of Reno.

“This was my husband’s dream, to live and have this the rest of our lives,” Waller said. “And at some point, we begrudgingly left it.”

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  • Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/blizzard-warning-of-up-to-10-feet-of-snow-in-northern-californias-sierra-travel-dangerous-to-impossible

Blizzard warning of up to 10 feet of snow in Northern California’s Sierra, travel ‘dangerous to impossible’

A Pacific storm packing powerful winds and heavy snow is shaping up to be the strongest of the season, forecasters say, as it pushes toward California with potential blizzard conditions in the Sierra and up to 10 feet (3 meters) of snow in the mountains around Lake Tahoe by the weekend.

The National Weather Service in Reno issued a blizzard warning Wednesday for a 300-mile (482-kilometer) stretch of the Sierra from north of Lake Tahoe to south of Yosemite National Park effective from early Thursday to 10 a.m. Sunday. Widespread blowing snow will create blizzard conditions with white-out conditions and near-zero visibility, making travel “dangerous to impossible” Friday into Saturday morning, when the heaviest snow is expected, the weather service said.

READ MORE: How winter weather can affect your drinking water

Between 2 and 4 feet (61 to 122 centimeters) is expected in towns along Tahoe’s shore and 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) at the highest elevations with winds gusting in excess of 100 mph (160 kph) over Sierra ridgetops, the weather service said. Road closures and power outages are likely.

“Do not take this storm lightly,” the weather service in Reno warned.

Potential snow totals vary under different scenarios, but the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, said there’s little doubt “March will be coming in like a lion for the West Coast states.”

An “impressive winter storm will hammer the Cascades to the Sierra with blizzard conditions to end the week,” the center said Wednesday. Heavy but lesser snow is on its way to the Rocky Mountains, and “heavy rain is expected for the coastal areas between San Francisco and the Olympic Peninsula of Washington where a few inches are likely over the next 3 days.”

The lead scientist at a snow lab atop the Sierra said it’s possible they could break their modern-day record of about 3.5 feet (1 meter) of snow in a single day from back in 1989.

“It’s a very serious storm for us,” Andrew Schwartz said Wednesday from UC-Berkeley’s Central Sierra Snow Lab, founded in 1946 in Soda Springs, California, northwest of Lake Tahoe.

Kristi Anderson, a waitress at The Gateway Cafe in South Lake Tahoe, California said she’s already filled up her gas tank and was stocking up on food and firewood.

“Last year we had a lot of storms, and the power went out a lot and a lot of people couldn’t get out to get food and the grocery stores didn’t have power so, we’re preparing for that,” Anderson said. “I’m hoping not a lot of people travel here because the roads will be really bad.”

Others remain skeptical.

Richard Cunningham said he’s heard before about forecasts for the storm of the century that didn’t materialize since he moved from Las Vegas to Reno in 1997.

“Same story, different day,” he said Wednesday. “Sometimes it doesn’t even snow.”

But Schwartz, the Sierra snow lab scientist, said he’s been watching the computer models over the past two weeks and, if anything, thinks the National Weather Service’s snowfall predictions are conservative.

“The forecasted total at the snow lab of 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.8 meters) is on the lower side of what the models are suggesting,” he said.

It’s good news for Tahoe-area ski resorts, where the season began with little snow but has been picking up as of late on the heels of last year’s near record snowfall.

Officials at Palisades Tahoe ski resort, where a skier was killed in an avalanche last month, said on its web site Wednesday it’s “thrilled about the prospect” for heavy snow while at the same time preparing for “challenging operational impacts.”

“There will be slick roads, reduced visibility, and closures on mountain passes that are pretty much guaranteed,” Palisades Tahoe spokesman Patrick Lacey said.

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Travel | Don’t go to Tahoe, tourists are warned: The 10…

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Travel | Don’t go to Tahoe, tourists are warned: The 10 places on Fodors No List for 2023

A crowd at Kings Beach State Recreation Area on Lake Tahoe in August 2020, a month in which some residents took to the streets to protest visitors behaving badly, leaving trash at the lakeshore and putting locals at risk during the pandemic. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

The travel guide publisher released its 2023 No List, “highlighting destinations to reconsider visiting.” It is not a boycott or ban, it says, but a call for travelers to be aware of the impact of crowds on these areas.

Tahoe is included in the category of “nature that needs a break,” primarily because of the effect that sediment and emissions from heavy traffic have on the lake’s clarity.

The Fodors article quoted Andy Chapman of Travel North Tahoe as saying tourism and hospitality leaders are trying to find “creative solutions to take cars off the road” without telling people to stay away.

Also on the list was the drought-stricken American West, with a specific mention of Mendocino.

THE NO LIST :

Nature that needs a break

  • France’s cliffs and calanques; suffering from erosion.
  • Antarctica; warming temperatures and wildlife declines.

Suffering cultural hotspots

  • Venice and the Amalfi Coast; locals being pushed out, threat to lagoon ecosystem.
  • Cornwall, England; infrastructure stretched to the limit.
  • Amsterdam; intensely overcrowded.
  • Thailand, particularly Maya Bay; ecological damage.

Destinations suffering from water crises

  • The American West
  • Southern European watershed, including the Rhine and Danube rivers, Spain and Greece.

Fodors also released its Go List of recommended destinations. The one spot in California is Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove — but even that comes with a hint of doom: Fodors says wildfire threat makes seeing the grove “at once more precious and urgent.”

Find the full lists for 2023: No List and Go List .

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COMMENTS

  1. Lake Tahoe, CA Weather Advisories

    Lake Tahoe, CA. 62° F. Location. Today Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities For Business. Lake Tahoe Alerts 0 Active. NO WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES IN EFFECT AT 3:43AM.

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  3. A travel guide's warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt the region into

    2 of 12 | . A man wets his feet in the cool water of Lake Tahoe at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park in Incline Village, Nev., Monday, July 17, 2023. Tourism officials at Lake Tahoe were surprised, and a bit standoffish, when a respected international travel guide included the iconic alpine lake straddling the California line on a list of places to stay away from this year because of the harmful ...

  4. Storm to bring 'difficult to impossible' Tahoe travel conditions

    The weather service issued a winter storm warning for the greater Lake Tahoe area, warning that "Travel will be very difficult to impossible" from 5 a.m. Tuesday to 5 a.m. Wednesday. Tuesday ...

  5. Destination Update

    Lake Tahoe Visitors Center. Explore Tahoe Visitor Center in the Heavenly Village, 4114 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe, CA. Email [email protected]. Phone (530) 542-4637, available daily, 10 am - 5 pm. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

  6. There is no good window for driving to Tahoe this weekend at all

    The National Weather Service issued a full winter storm warning for the Lake Tahoe region, in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday to 11 a.m. Sunday. The weather service cautions that travel in and around ...

  7. Lake Tahoe Travel During the Davis Fire: What You Need to Know

    Here are some important tips to keep in mind: Check Road Closures: Major roads, such as I-580 and Mount Rose Highway, may experience closures or limited access. Always check current road conditions before beginning your trip. Monitor Air Quality: Smoke can travel into the Lake Tahoe area.

  8. California blizzard warning: Storm could bring up to 10 feet of snow

    Blizzard warning, avalanche watch as storm packing up to 10 feet of snow moves into Sierra Nevada. Skiers enjoy a day of skiing and snow fall at North Star California Resort on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, Truckee, Calif. The most powerful Pacific storm of the season started barreling into the Sierra Nevada on Thursday, packing multiple feet of ...

  9. South Lake Tahoe, CA Severe Weather Alert

    The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity, which is in effect from 11 AM to 11 PM PDT Saturday. ... Fire Weather Zone 272 Greater Lake ...

  10. Travel guide's warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt region into ...

    This month saw the unveiling of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, a 143-page document backed by a broad coalition of more than a dozen conservation, business, governmental and private entities that prioritizes "sustainably preserving" the goose that lays the golden egg — the twinkling cobalt waters that turn blue-green near the ...

  11. Winter storm warning: Travel to Sierra 'strongly discouraged'

    The warning, in effect from 7 p.m. Tuesday through 10 p.m. Wednesday, is for the western portion of the northern Sierra, as well as Western Plumas County and the Lassen Volcanic National Park area ...

  12. Travel could be 'hazardous' in Lake Tahoe region amid storm

    Caltrans/AP. A winter storm warning is in effect until 4 a.m. Friday for the Lake Tahoe area, and motorists are encouraged to stay at home and avoid travel. Snowfall could accumulate up to 20 ...

  13. Lake Tahoe snow, weather live updates: South Lake Tahoe battling severe

    8 p.m. South Lake Tahoe gas station awning ... 8 a.m. National Weather Service issues winter storm warning for ... They said mountain travel is "highly discouraged" with all people in the area to ...

  14. Red Flag Warning for Lake Tahoe Saturday and Sunday

    SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Services (NWS) in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and the rest of the Eastern Sierra, northeast California including ...

  15. South Lake Tahoe Warnings, Watches and Advisories

    64%. Humidity. North 0.0mph. Wind. Fair. Full Report. South Lake Tahoe, CA severe weather warnings, watches and advisories as immediately issued by the National Weather Service.

  16. Lake Tahoe Weather Forecast Snow and Road Conditions

    CURRENT SNOW REPORT. Lake Tahoe gets an average annual snowfall of 279 inches (that's just over 23 feet!). The chart below has the latest snow report, showing if there is snow in Lake Tahoe right now, what resorts are open, the number of lifts and runs available, and the conditions to expect. For more info, contact the resorts directly.

  17. A travel guide's warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt the region into

    Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line on its 'Fodor's No ...

  18. A travel guide's warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt the region into

    Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada line on its list of places to ...

  19. Winter Storm Warning in effect for Lake Tahoe Wednesday-Friday

    Wave heights 2 to 4 feet on Lake Tahoe Wednesday and Wednesday night. Snow at lake level is expected to be 3" - 6" over the three days. The next atmospheric river will arrive on Sunday.

  20. A travel guide's warning to avoid Lake Tahoe may jolt the region into

    SAND HARBOR, Nev. (AP) — Lake Tahoe tourism officials were surprised, and a bit miffed, when a respected international travel guide put the iconic alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada ...

  21. Blizzard warning of up to 10 feet of snow in Northern California's

    The National Weather Service in Reno issued a blizzard warning Wednesday for a 300-mile (482-kilometer) stretch of the Sierra from north of Lake Tahoe to south of Yosemite National Park effective ...

  22. Do Not Travel To Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts This Weekend

    A historic storm and the danger to go with it. Ella Boyd. Feb 29, 2024. The "storm of the season" is currently barreling towards Lake Tahoe, and ski resorts are encouraging travelers to stay home. Palisades Tahoe is warning that 5-8 feet of snow could fall by Sunday morning. Check out their warning below.

  23. Don't go to Tahoe: The 10 places on Fodors No List for 2023

    Lake Tahoe is one of 10 destinations that the Fodors travel experts are warning tourists away from in the coming year. The travel guide publisher released its 2023 No List, "highlighting ...