Summer arrives in Tahoe because the calendar says so

By Kathryn Reed

Summer is here. Sometimes in Tahoe it takes looking at the calendar and not just outside to know this fact.

Mother Nature has been struggling to warm up this part of Sierra. Just last week the overnight lows were consistently in the 30s. The National Weather Service in Reno said some 30s are still possible in the coming nights, but expect 40s as well.

The highs are going to be in the upper 60s to low 70s into the weekend.

Trout Creek is running fast, wide and is close to the top of the bank. Photo/Kathryn Reed

“We are trying to get there,” Rudy Cruz, Weather Service specialist, said of normal temperatures.

Systems in Oregon and Washington are pushing down on Eastern California and Western Nevada to create the afternoon cloudiness.

With unusual systems off the Northern California coast, it means more wind in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Thunderstorms are in the forecast for the afternoons this week, too.

The Upper Truckee River in Meyers is running about 200 to 250 cubic feet per second.

“Most of the melting occurred a few weeks ago,” Cruz said of the snow melt.

Trout Creek behind Lake Tahoe Community College looks like it could overflow its banks.

The American River along Highway 50 is rushing, producing rapids rarely seen.

South Lake Tahoe Public Works Director John Greenhut said no flooding has occurred to date in the city with the high rivers.

Lake Tahoe is still above its natural rim of 6,223 feet. On June 22 it was at 6,224.52 feet. But the toll of three consecutive drought years is adding up. In late June 2008 the lake level was at 6,225.26 feet.

Once the snow in the higher elevations is done filling the tributaries of Lake Tahoe and the weather warms to cause greater evaporation, it’s possible the lake will go below its natural rim. That means no water on the other side of the dam in Tahoe City, which in turn spells trouble for users downstream in Reno.