What began as a cheerful summer gathering on the shores of Lake Tahoe turned to tragedy on Saturday, after a sudden storm caused several boats to capsize, leaving at least eight people dead.

The skies were a brilliant blue when Gloria Brigantino and her friends dropped anchor for a rum cocktail on the lake, which straddles the California-Nevada border. Nearby, a band played on the shore and families paddled in the water as the first official weekend of summer got under way.

But within minutes, conditions changed. A storm swept in, unleashing 35mph (56km/h) winds, eight-foot (2.5m) swells and even a brief snowfall. Tents and canopies flew into the air, and boats crashed into each other as they tore from their anchors.

By Monday, officials confirmed two more deaths, bringing the toll to eight. The fatalities were all adults aboard a 27-foot tourist vessel that capsized in the storm. Only two of the ten passengers were found alive, according to the Coast Guard. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased.

“It happened suddenly. The water was just screaming toward the shore,” Brigantino told the BBC.

Brigantino, a self-described cowgirl visiting from California with friends in the Western horse industry, described scenes of chaos and heartbreak as boats were flung ashore and people frantically tried to escape the water. She watched safely from land as the vessel she had just disembarked capsized, taking her group’s belongings with it.

“Some owners of the boats were crying as their boats were wrecked,” she said. “People were risking their lives to help unload passengers from charter boats. The waves just bashed it so rapidly — they ran off, fell off, many were crying.”

The band fled, their stage submerged. Brigantino recalled the smell of leaking fuel and said she counted nine boats piled in front of her within 35 minutes.

The storm struck the south-western corner of Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America, known for its typically serene waters and bright sunshine.

Although poor weather had been forecast, few expected a squall of such violence. Brigantino, who grew up in the area, said she had not seen conditions like it in decades — “if ever”.

The storm passed as quickly as it arrived. By 16:30, Brigantino’s photos showed a return to calm, with sapphire waters and blue skies once more — a stark contrast to the devastation left in its wake.

Authorities say notifications to the families of the deceased are ongoing.

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