The final body of the victim of a capsized boat on Lake Tahoe, California, during a severe and unexpected weekend thunderstorm was recovered on Monday, bringing the total number of fatalities to eight.

U.S. Coast Guard officials reported that a 27-foot Chris-Craft boat, with ten people on board, overturned on Saturday afternoon near D.L. Bliss State Park, located on the southwest side of the lake, when a storm caused large waves.

Two people were immediately rescued and taken to a hospital, though their condition was not known. The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office reported that six bodies were found later on Saturday, and a seventh 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 until their next of kin had been informed.

While the lake has seen drownings and other accidental deaths in recent years, boating accidents resulting in multiple fatalities are infrequent. In 2022, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department informed KCRA-TV that the lake averages six deaths each summer, although 2021 saw a record high of fifteen fatalities; updated figures were not immediately available from the department.

The thunderstorm's strength surprised even experienced forecasters. They had expected some rain, but not the severe storm that hit the southern part of the lake around 3 p.m., according to meteorologist Matthew Chyba from the National Weather Service office in Reno, Nevada. Winds reached over 35 mph (56 kph), and waves rose to more than 8 feet (2.5 meters).

"Chyba admitted that the intensity had surpassed their expectations."

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

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

Lake Tahoe, a highly sought-after summer recreational haven, attracts a multitude of enthusiasts engaging in boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding. This immaculate, frigid lake, which straddles the border between California and Nevada, holds the distinction of being one of the nation's deepest, surpassed only by Oregon's Crater Lake.

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

The tempest that struck on Saturday dissipated in approximately two hours.

Brittany Glick and seven friends were celebrating a bachelorette party on a rented pontoon boat last Saturday when the wind picked up and the waves grew larger. Glick explained on Monday that the day had begun sunny, but the temperature suddenly dropped, and it became almost impossible to see.

She described the experience as feeling like the beginning of a huge tsunami, something she had never encountered before.

After an hour navigating progressively turbulent waters that left passengers thoroughly drenched, the boat's return to the dock was met with an abrupt hailstorm.

Glick explained that seeing all the boats overturned was very disturbing. Being soaked and extremely cold, they shivered uncontrollably. Their feet were numb, and their toes were turning blue. He stated that it was likely one of the most frightening experiences he had faced in 30 years. The storm arrived very suddenly and was terrifying.

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