What began as a breezy afternoon of fun on Lake Tahoe quickly spiraled into a nightmare when a powerful storm hit the scenic destination. Gloria Brigantino, who was enjoying drinks with friends, noticed the chill and the wind picking up just before chaos erupted. “The water was just screaming toward the shore,” she said.
A Sudden Shift Turns Lake Tahoe Deadly
Within minutes, winds surged up to 35 mph, causing 8ft waves and flipping boats in the southwest corner of the lake. One 27ft boat filled with tourists capsized, throwing all 10 passengers into the frigid water. Only two survived. On Monday, officials confirmed the discovery of two more bodies, bringing the death toll to eight.
Brigantino, a local familiar with Lake Tahoe‘s unpredictable weather, stood onshore watching boats collide and people scramble for safety. “Some owners of the boats were crying as their boats were wrecked,” she told the BBC. “The waves just bashed it so rapidly they ran off, fell off, many were crying.”
Boats Crash, People Cry, Gas Leaks in the Panic
The storm struck so fast that even a nearby band performing for beachgoers had to flee. Their stage was underwater in minutes. Brigantino described seeing gas leaking, people diving into the water to help, and at least nine boats smashed together by the time the storm passed.
She and her friends had been on the same boat that later sank. “I could smell gas leaking,” she recalled. “Some gentlemen helped take passengers off a pontoon boat that got stuck in the shore.”
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that 10 people were aboard the gold 27ft boat that capsized, but only two survived. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office has yet to release the names of the deceased but said all initial victims were adults.
Despite forecasts warning of poor weather, many didn’t expect such a violent squall. Brigantino said she had never seen Lake Tahoe so fierce. By 4:30 pm, the storm vanished almost as quickly as it came—restoring the lake’s signature sapphire calm, though the tragedy lingered.