A sudden storm over Lake Tahoe Saturday afternoon churned up towering waves and fierce winds that capsized a boat, killing eight people and injuring more. What happened in less than an hour is now being called one of the deadliest weather-related boating accidents in recent Tahoe history — and a powerful reminder of how quickly and violently mountain weather can change. This tragic event raises urgent questions: What caused such extreme weather? Could anyone have predicted it? And is it something that could happen again? … While detailed regional modeling of Lake Tahoe’s summer thunderstorms is limited, major climate assessments point to broader trends that could impact storm behavior in the Sierra Nevada. … Findings suggest a shift toward stronger, more abrupt convective storms. That has implications for Lake Tahoe, where an afternoon downdraft hitting warm lake air could generate sudden wind spikes and dangerous waves similar to those seen on June 21.