The final body of a victim from the Lake Tahoe boating accident, which occurred during a severe and unexpected weekend thunderstorm, was recovered Monday, raising the total number of fatalities to eight.

A gold, 27-foot Chris-Craft vessel carrying ten passengers capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park on Lake Tahoe's southwestern shore Saturday afternoon, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, as a sudden storm generated unexpectedly high waves.

Two people were quickly rescued and taken to a hospital, though their condition was not known. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office stated that six bodies were found later on Saturday, and a seventh body was discovered on Sunday evening. Divers then searched a part of Lake Tahoe and located the last body on Monday afternoon.

Sergeant Kyle Parker stated that the victims' identities would remain confidential pending notification of their next of kin.

While there have been tragic drownings and other accidental deaths on the lake recently, serious boating accidents with many deaths are uncommon. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department told KCRA-TV in 2022 that there are usually six deaths on the lake every summer, though there were a record 15 deaths in 2021. The department could not provide more current numbers right away.

The thunderstorm's strength surprised even meteorologists. They had expected some rain, but not the severe storm that hit the southern part of the lake around 3 p.m., according to Matthew Chyba from the National Weather Service in Reno, Nevada. He stated that winds went over 56 kph and waves rose to more than 2.5 meters.

Chyba admitted that the intensity had surpassed their expectations.

He stated that the temperatures in the area were much colder than usual for this time of year, which might have made the air mass unstable.

Chyba characterized the eight-foot waves on Lake Tahoe as "pretty significant," adding, "They were really churning up the lake."

Lake Tahoe is a well-known place for summer activities like boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding. This very cold, clear lake is located on the border of California and Nevada. It is also one of the deepest lakes in the country, with only Oregon's Crater Lake being deeper.

Officials have not provided any information about the people on the boat that overturned, nor have they stated if the boat was rented or belonged to someone.

The storm that struck on Saturday dissipated within approximately two hours.

Brittany Glick stated on Monday that a bachelorette party she attended on a rented pontoon boat with seven other people on Saturday took an unexpected turn. The wind grew stronger, the waves became larger, and what started as a sunny day quickly changed, with temperatures dropping and visibility almost disappearing.

She described the experience as being similar to the beginning of a tsunami, adding that she had never encountered anything so significant before.

After about an hour of navigating increasingly rough waters, which completely soaked the passengers, the boat returned to the dock just as it started to hail.

Glick said he was deeply disturbed by the sight of the overturned boats. He added that being soaked in the cold water made them shiver uncontrollably, and their feet were numb with blue toes. He described it as one of the most frightening experiences he had in 30 years, made worse by how quickly and alarmingly the storm started.

KCRA-TV obtained video footage depicting moored vessels colliding at a local marina, buffeted by powerful gusts of wind.