What began as a joyful summer outing on Lake Tahoe turned tragic on Saturday when a sudden storm swept across the lake, causing several boats to capsize and claiming at least eight lives.
The day started with clear blue skies as visitors gathered along the shores of the lake, which straddles the California-Nevada border. Gloria Brigantino and her friends had just anchored their boat to enjoy drinks when the weather turned abruptly. A band was playing nearby and families were enjoying the water as summer festivities unfolded.
Within minutes, a violent storm rolled in, bringing 35 mph (56 km/h) winds, eight-foot (2.5-meter) swells, and even brief snowfall. Tents and canopies were lifted into the air, and boats were torn from their moorings, colliding violently in the churning waters.
By Monday, authorities confirmed that two additional bodies had been recovered, raising the death toll to eight. All victims were adults aboard a 27-foot tourist vessel that capsized during the storm. Of the ten people on board, only two survived, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The identities of the deceased have not yet been released.
“It happened suddenly. The water was just screaming toward the shore,” Brigantino told the BBC.
Brigantino, a California native visiting with friends in the Western horse industry, recounted the chaos as boats were flung ashore and people scrambled to escape the worsening conditions. She watched from land as the boat she had just left capsized, taking with it all her group’s belongings.
“Some boat owners were crying as their boats were destroyed,” she recalled. “People were risking their lives to get passengers off charter boats. The waves came so fast — they ran, they fell, many were in tears.”
She described seeing nine boats piled up within half an hour, the air thick with the smell of fuel as the storm engulfed the area. The band that had been performing was forced to flee as their stage flooded.
The storm struck the lake’s southwestern corner — an area typically known for calm waters and bright weather. While poor conditions had been forecast, the intensity and speed of the squall caught many by surprise.
Brigantino, who grew up near Lake Tahoe, said she hadn’t seen weather like this in decades — “if ever.”
Remarkably, by 4:30 p.m., skies had cleared and the lake returned to its usual calm. Brigantino shared photos showing serene sapphire waters, a stark contrast to the destruction that had unfolded just hours earlier.
Authorities said efforts to notify the families of the deceased are ongoing.
