Winter
Dec → Feb6°
nights -8 to -7°
- 7 rainy days · 85 mm
When is the best time to visit Lake Tahoe?
- Jan6°recommended
- Feb6°recommended
- Mar9°recommended
- Apr12°fair
- May17°fair
- Jun22°recommended
- Jul27°recommended
- Aug27°recommended
- Sep23°recommended
- Oct17°fair
- Nov11°not recommended
- Dec6°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Lake Tahoe, month by month
The table of averages, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6° | -8° | 71 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| February | 6° | -7° | 95 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| March | 9° | -5° | 73 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| April | 12° | -2° | 32 mm | 6 d | |
| May | 17° | 1° | 34 mm | 5 d | |
| June | 22° | 3° | 14 mm | 2 d | ✓ |
| July | 27° | 6° | 10 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| August | 27° | 5° | 9 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| September | 23° | 2° | 7 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| October | 17° | -2° | 36 mm | 4 d | |
| November | 11° | -5° | 49 mm | 6 d | |
| December | 6° | -8° | 89 mm | 8 d |
The four seasons in Lake Tahoe, in figures
What the 2015-2024 averages (South Lake Tahoe) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May9 to 17°
nights -5 to 1°
- 6 rainy days · 46 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug22 to 27°
nights 3 to 6°
- 1 rainy days · 11 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 23°
nights -5 to 2°
- 4 rainy days · 31 mm
Book early for January to March and June to September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Lake Tahoe, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h53 of daylight, in December 9h27, a difference of 5h26.
9h43Jan
10h41Feb
11h50Mar
13h10Apr
14h17May
14h53Jun
14h38Jul
13h40Aug
12h23Sep
11h06Oct
9h59Nov
9h27Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "South Lake Tahoe" (38.90°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Lake Tahoe, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Towns & culture: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the climate averages (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended6°-8° at night
- 71 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
February
Recommended6°-7° at night
- 95 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
March
Recommended9°-5° at night
- 73 mm · 8 d
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair12°-2° at night
- 32 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
May
Fair17°1° at night
- 34 mm · 5 d
Low season, lower prices
June
Recommended22°3° at night
- 14 mm · 2 d
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended27°6° at night
- 10 mm · 1 d
High season, book early
August
Recommended27°5° at night
- 9 mm · 1 d
High season, book early
September
Recommended23°2° at night
- 7 mm · 1 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair17°-2° at night
- 36 mm · 4 d
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended11°-5° at night
- 49 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair6°-8° at night
- 89 mm · 8 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -8 °C at night. Rain stays light: 71 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
February. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -7 °C at night. Rain stays light: 95 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 9 °C at best, -5 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (73 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
April. Cool: 12 °C at best, -2 °C at night. Rain stays light: 32 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 17 °C at best, 1 °C at night. Rain stays light: 34 mm over 5 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 3 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (14 mm over 2 days). Busy season, without the crush.
July. 27 °C in the afternoon and 6 °C at night. Hardly any rain (10 mm over 1 day). High season: book early.
August. 27 °C in the afternoon and 5 °C at night. Hardly any rain (9 mm over 1 day). High season: book early.
September. Mild, 23 °C in the afternoon and 2 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (7 mm over 1 day). Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 17 °C at best, -2 °C at night. Rain stays light: 36 mm over 4 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, -5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 49 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Deep winter: 6 °C at the warmest of the day, -8 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (89 mm). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
The Laurentians and Mont-TremblantBest time: Skiing (January to March) and nature (June to October)When to visit the Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant →The Laurentians and Mont-Tremblant guide
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Lake Tahoe?
January to March and June to September: over these months, average highs range from 6 to 27 °C, with 4 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 averages, South Lake Tahoe).
Which month should you avoid in Lake Tahoe?
November: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 49 mm over 6 days of rain on average over 2015-2024 at the reference point (South Lake Tahoe).
What is the hottest month in Lake Tahoe?
July, with 27 °C on average in the afternoon and 6 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (South Lake Tahoe).
What is the coldest month in Lake Tahoe?
January, with 6 °C at best during the day and -8 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (South Lake Tahoe).
What is the driest month in Lake Tahoe?
September: 7 mm over 1 day of rain, against 95 mm in February, the wettest month.
Does it get cold at night in Lake Tahoe?
The gap between day and night reaches 22 °C in August: 27 °C in the afternoon, 5 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Lake Tahoe?
April, May, June, July, August, September, October: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month on 2015-2024 averages (South Lake Tahoe), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Lake Tahoe guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit the American West: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Lloyd Douglas / Pexels · dconvertini / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Eric Philbin / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Frank Schulenburg / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)