Capsized boat accident on Lake Tahoe: What we know
This story has been updated.
A powerboat capsized Saturday, June 21, on Lake Tahoe amid a sudden afternoon storm, leaving eight passengers dead and two rescued
More: Breaking: One of two missing boaters in Lake Tahoe tragedy found dead Sunday night by sheriff
Here's what we know about the incident as of 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 24.
What kind of boat capsized on Lake Tahoe?
According to Coast Guard officials, the boat was a gold 27-foot vessel built by Chris-Craft, a Florida-based powerboat manufacturer.
Where did the boat capsize on Lake Tahoe?
The boat capsized off the shoreline near D.L. Bliss State Park on the southwest side of Lake Tahoe.
Who were the passengers on the Lake Tahoe boat that capsized?
The El Dorado Sheriff's Office, which is leading the investigation into the boating accident, released the names of the eight victims. They are:
Joshua Pickles was an executive with food delivery platform DoorDash. Here's a closer look at those who died.
Were passengers on the capsized boat on Lake Tahoe wearing life jackets?
There was no immediate information about if any of the boaters were wearing life jackets.
It's recommended that personal flotation devices be worn while aboard motorized vessels, but California law requires them only for passengers 13 years of age and younger. Coast Guard-approved life vests must be carried and readily accessible for each passenger if the vessel is 16 feet or longer. The 27-foot Chris-Craft boat would fall under this definition.
The National Park Service warns that water temperatures below 70 degrees can cause hypothermia within minutes. In 50-degree water, a person can survive for about 10 minutes before being unable to save themself, NPS said. With a life jacket, someone might survive for an hour before hypothermia sets in.
The Tahoe Environmental Research Center at UC-Davis is reporting the alpine lake's water temperature is just over 58 degrees on Sunday.
What were weather conditions like when the boat capsized on Lake Tahoe?
The boat that capsized was just one of many that were damaged by the sudden storm on Saturday.
The National Weather Service reported a temperature drop at nearby Emerald Bay from 50° F at noon to 38° F at 3 p.m., approximately the time the boat capsized. Wind gusts topped 35 mph, with snow and rain falling in the immediate area; swells were reported as high as eight feet.
Which agencies responded to the capsized boat on Lake Tahoe?
The El Dorado Sheriff's Office is the lead agency for rescue and investigation efforts, and several other agencies also have assisted. Coast Guard personnel responded to initial reports of the capsized boat and launched an air search Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.
Seasonal lifeguards on nearby beaches also responded to the incident.
Where is Lake Tahoe?
Lake Tahoe is a freshwater lake high in the Sierra Nevada range, straddling the border between Nevada and California. It trails only the Great Lakes in total water volume and is renowned for its clarity. The majority of its surface area, including the site of the boat accident, is in California.
Since 1969, Nevada and California have worked to address issues regarding development and environmental concerns through the Bi-State Compact and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
What are conditions like at Lake Tahoe this week?
A sudden shift in the weather brought unseasonably cool temperatures to the region and dropped snow to the Sierra on the first full day of summer on Saturday, June 21, and adverse weather conditions are expected to continue for the coming days.
The National Weather Service predicts a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms for the Lake Tahoe area through Tuesday, with clear skies and daytime highs in the 60s and 70s through Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Know Before You Go: Why These Beaches Are Considered The Most Dangerous In The US
It's probably no surprise that the top 10 most dangerous beaches in the U.S. are in Florida, according to a 2025 analysis. While the Sunshine State is known for its dozens of beautiful, white, sandy beaches, it also gets the highest number of hurricanes and shark attacks. Those are two of the main factors that the tide and weather forecasting platform, Tideschart, used to analyze 528 beaches across the United States. The other major factor was surf-zone deaths. The surf zone is where waves begin to break as they reach the shore, deaths are often caused by three hazards in that zone: Rip Currents - these strong, narrow currents create a high-speed channel that can rip you out to sea. High Surf - large, powerful waves churned up by swells from a distant storm. Sneaker Waves - large waves that suddenly swamp the shore, taking people by surprise and sweeping them out into deeper water. (MORE: 2025 Hurricane Season Outlook) Each beach in the top 10 has experienced 126 hurricanes, but the destination with the distinction of the number 1 spot had a staggering number of shark attacks. Here are the top 10: 23 Shark Attacks 5 Surf Zone Deaths 19 shark attacks 6 Surf Zone Deaths 0 Shark Attacks 10 Surf Zone Deaths 35 Shark Attacks 7 Surf Zone deaths 39 Shark Attacks 7 Surf Zone Deaths Indialantic Beach is a favorite with surfers, but the 8-foot swells that attract them also make this beach especially risky. It's had nine surf-zone deaths and 30 shark attacks. Miami Beach may be Florida's most famous beach but surf conditions have caused 14 deaths and there have been 17 shark attacks. The powerful currents at Daytona Beach, on Florida's Atlantic Coast, are blamed for 27 deaths and there have been 67 shark attacks Just two miles west of Panama City Beach, Daytona Beach had the highest number of surf-related deaths - 39, with nine shark attacks recorded. South of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach had more shark attacks than all the other 9 beaches combined. 277 encounters were recorded there, in addition to 12 surf-zone deaths. And while this list may seem like a beach bummer, there's no need to abandon your seaside plans. Just remember to stay aware, pay attention to high-surf and other flagged warnings and stay informed during hurricane season.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Weather Whiz: June 29, 2025
How well have you been paying attention to the weather this week? Here are five questions that will test your knowledge of what's been going on. A: The stunning image above shows clouds of gas and dust in the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae, located several thousand light-years from Earth. It combines 678 images taken over just seven hours, revealing faint details—like nebular gas and dust—that would otherwise be invisible. Where was it taken? B: The first named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was an uneventful one named _______. C: On Tuesday, a tornado downed hundreds of trees when it hit a famous summit in what state? D: The 10 most dangerous beaches in the U.S. are all in ______. E: Scientists are puzzled after a cosmic particle detector flying high above ______ picked up a series of strange signals – ones that current science cannot explain. . . . . . Answers A: The Vera C. Rubin Observatory. B: Andrea. C: Colorado. D: Florida. E: Antarctica.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
The National Hurricane Center Is Watching A New Area Off The Florida, Carolina Coasts
The National Hurricane Center has highlighted an area around Florida that includes both the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean, for potential tropical development later this week. While odds of development are low at the moment, there's a chance for conditions to become more favorable later in the week. If something tropical does develop, it will be from the remnants of a cold front that is expected to slide southeast this week and stall over northern Florida by the end of the week. What to expect: Keep in mind that regardless of development, there will be numerous showers and storms in and around Florida and the Southeast this week. The beach forecast this holiday weekend will be touch and go, with off and on showers and storms lingering across much of the state. Northern portions of the state, around the Big Bend and eastward, could see nearly a foot of rain this week. This means many Fourth of July barbeques and outdoor activities in this region may need a plan B just in case. With many people heading to the beach for the 4th of July weekend, check back often for forecast updates as we continue to track this area of possible development. Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.
