Update June 23 at 11 a.m
“The incident has resulted in two survivors and seven confirmed fatalities, with one person still missing. Authorities have stated that the identities of the deceased will not be released until proper notifications have been made to their families.”
Update June 22 at 3 p.m.
The Coast Guard suspended its search at 10:55 a.m., Sunday, pending further developments, for two missing people in the vicinity of D.L. Bliss State Park at Lake Tahoe after their boat capsized Saturday afternoon.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — A tragic accident on Lake Tahoe Saturday afternoon left six people dead and two others missing after a 27-foot recreational boat capsized amid rapidly deteriorating weather conditions near D.L. Bliss State Park, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Authorities say the incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. as a fast-moving cold front swept through the Sierra, bringing sudden snow flurries, wind gusts topping 45 mph, and dangerously low visibility. The vessel, designed to carry fewer passengers, was reportedly overloaded with eight individuals when it overturned in rough waters.
“Conditions turned deadly fast,”
said Coast Guard Lt. Rebecca Evans.
“What started as a sunny day quickly devolved into chaos on the lake. This boat was not equipped to handle those numbers or those winds.”
Videos captured near the scene show smaller boats struggling against mounting swells, with the 27-foot boat shown overturned and partially submerged. The Coast Guard, in cooperation with El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and California State Parks, launched immediate search-and-rescue operations. As of late Saturday evening, divers and patrol boats were still combing the frigid waters.
Meteorologist Christine Hanson described the weather shift as
“a classic early-summer Sierra surprise.”
“We had snow flurries, plummeting temperatures, and high winds from a Canadian cold air mass,” Hanson told reporters. “People often underestimate just how fast conditions can change up here.”
Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims pending family notification. The two missing individuals are presumed to have been thrown overboard and swept away in the storm.
Local officials are urging boaters to respect posted capacity limits and monitor real-time weather alerts. Lake Tahoe’s clear skies can give a false sense of security, but its alpine climate often shifts without much warning.
“This is a heartbreaking reminder of how unforgiving the lake can be,”
said El Dorado County Sheriff’s Sgt. Marcus Beltran.
“We’re asking all residents and visitors to use extra caution and to never take unnecessary risks, especially during transitional weather.”
The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified, and a full investigation is underway.
