Forest officials urge caution as storms move into Tahoe region

LAKE TAHOE–Storms moving into the Lake Tahoe area throughout the weekend have the potential to create dangerous conditions, especially in areas recently scarred by the Caldor Fire. Unnecessary travel should be avoided, said officials at the U.S. Forest Service’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

In a statement about the coming storm, LTMBU officials said the amount of precipitation forecast is expected to create debris flows, flooding and rockfalls, especially in steep canyon areas.

Flooding of creeks and streams is also expected.

“Debris flows can occur suddenly and cause damage to structures or threaten the safety of people nearby… If you are in the mountains, avoid steep slopes, and drainages especially in the Caldor Fire area, but also anywhere else affected by the storm,” officials warned.

Agencies working on a BAER team (Burned Area Emergency Response) said they have completed a number of treatments in the Caldor Fire area in recent weeks, including rehabilitating dozer lines and implementing erosion control strategies.

Residents and visitors in the region can access up-to-date weather information at https://www.weather.gov/sto/.

Read more about the science behind erosion and landscape change after wildfire in this recent story from The Conversation.