Weather

6 Dead, 2 Missing After Boat Capsizes in Lake Tahoe Storm

Published JUN 23 2025

Story

Above: The Truckee River in Tahoe City, California, on March 15, 2025. Image credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images

The Facts

Six people died and two others remain missing after a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat capsized on Lake Tahoe near D.L. Bliss State Park on Saturday around 3 p.m. local time. Two people were rescued and taken to hospital, the El Dorado County sheriff's office and the U.S. Coast Guard said late Saturday.
CBS News
Daily Mail
New York Daily News
The boat capsized during severe weather conditions, with winds up to 45 mph, waves reaching 6-8 feet in height, and a dramatic temperature drop from 54 to 37 degrees between 2:15 and 4:15 p.m. on Saturday.
Breitbart
Daily Mail
CBS News
Emergency responders from the U.S. Coast Guard, El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, California State Parks, and South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to reports of 10 people in the water battling dangerous wave conditions.
ap
CBS News
Daily Mail
Search and rescue operations involving dive teams, helicopters, and Coast Guard vessels continued through Saturday evening and resumed Sunday morning to locate the two missing individuals in the alpine lake.
USA Today
guardian
Breitbart
Local boat captain Joby Cefalu, who has navigated Lake Tahoe for decades, described Saturday's conditions as the worst he had ever witnessed, calling it "a very, very tragic day on Lake Tahoe."
New York Post
Breitbart
USA Today
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its air search operations after more than 12 hours. "The identities of the deceased will not be released until next-of-kin notifications have been made," the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.
FOX News
NBC Bay Area
USA Today

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

The Coast Guard and local agencies responded to this tragedy swiftly, with comprehensive search and rescue operations that spanned multiple agencies and lasted over 12 hours. Professional emergency responders utilized all available resources, including helicopters, dive teams, and boats, to maximize rescue efforts — nothing more could have been done.

South Tahoe Now

Fox 59

Narrative B

This tragedy highlights the deadly risks associated with sudden weather changes in alpine lakes. The storm struck without adequate warning, creating impossible conditions that even experienced boaters couldn't navigate safely. Better weather monitoring and emergency alert systems could prevent future disasters.