Tahoe basin under severe weather watch

Sprinkles were falling at Emerald Bay about 5pm July 3. Photo/Kathryn Reed

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a flash flood warning for eastern El Dorado and Placer counties until 8:45 tonight. This includes South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, and Squaw Valley and all of the communities in the basin on Highway 89.

Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for areas east of Reno, and both ends of Lake Tahoe. Quarter-size hail is possible

Authorities are warning people to not cross low-lying areas in a vehicle that have a foot or more of water.

Get to higher ground is the general rule.

Afternoon thunderstorms are expected to continue through Thursday. This could impact Fourth of July festivities.

The National Weather Service just began issuing mobile emergency message alerts through select phone carriers. For more info, go online.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report