Waterspout activates tornado warning for Lake Tahoe area

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for the Lake Tahoe area Wednesday afternoon after a waterspout was spotted over the lake.

Evan LaGuardia, a meteorologist with the weather service in Reno, said the waterspout touched down on the surface of the lake, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The event was captured in several photos, LaGuardia said.

***Severe Thunderstorm Warning*** Washoe Valley/Carson City, NV Expect quarter sized hail & heavy rainfall. Seek Shelter! #NVWx pic.twitter.com/aKcCNpnfiV

— NWS Reno (@NWSReno) September 13, 2017

The tornado warning was scheduled to expire at 4:45 p.m. The same storm was producing quarter-sized hail.

Waterspouts, essentially tornadoes over water, are rare but not unheard of at Lake Tahoe. It’s been several years since one was reported there, LaGuardia said. “We don’t get these things very often,” he said.

Contact Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0350. Follow @RefriedBrean on Twitter.

Awesome view up at Tahoe looking towards Ponderosa @LakeTahoe_News @SouthTahoeNow @CHPSouthLake pic.twitter.com/Q4TAR5GnWR

— NHP Northern Command (@NHPNorthern) September 14, 2017

Thunder, lightning, rain and hail in Podunk! pic.twitter.com/6exiUhGZ0f

— Sandra Chereb (@SandraChereb) September 13, 2017