The best times to visit South Lake Tahoe for ideal weather are

June 11th to September 23rd

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other South Lake Tahoe Travel Info

Weather in South Lake Tahoe

Temperature

Average temperatures in South Lake Tahoe vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for most of the year with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 35th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit South Lake Tahoe, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late July where highs are regularly around 83°F (28.3°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 44.7°F (7.1°C) at night.

South Lake Tahoe Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

South Lake Tahoe Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

South Lake Tahoe Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

South Lake Tahoe Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average South Lake Tahoe Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 46 30 17.7
Feb 46.3 32.3 20.7
Mar 51.2 37 25.1
Apr 56.4 41.3 28.3
May 63.8 48.5 33.5
Jun 74.3 57.5 39.2
Jul 82.6 64.3 44.4
Aug 81.2 62.7 42.9
Sep 76.3 56.8 37.9
Oct 63.9 45.9 31.4
Nov 53.3 37 24.7
Dec 44.1 30.3 18.7

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 7.8 -1.1 -7.9
Feb 7.9 0.2 -6.3
Mar 10.7 2.8 -3.8
Apr 13.6 5.2 -2.1
May 17.7 9.2 0.8
Jun 23.5 14.2 4
Jul 28.1 17.9 6.9
Aug 27.3 17.1 6.1
Sep 24.6 13.8 3.3
Oct 17.7 7.7 -0.3
Nov 11.8 2.8 -4.1
Dec 6.7 -0.9 -7.4

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in South Lake Tahoe are August, July, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid June. For example, on the week of June 18th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in early December with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of December 3rd.

When can you find snow in South Lake Tahoe? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in South Lake Tahoe.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in South Lake Tahoe (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 11% 0 2
Feb 18% 0 2.6
Mar 18% 0 2.4
Apr 11% 0 1
May 14% 0 1.3
Jun 6% 0 0.7
Jul 4% 0 0.3
Aug 3% 0 0.4
Sep 4% 0 0.4
Oct 10% 0 1.7
Nov 13% 0 1.4
Dec 19% 0 3

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 11 0 5.1
Feb 18 0 6.6
Mar 18 0 6.1
Apr 11 0 2.5
May 14 0 3.3
Jun 6 0 1.8
Jul 4 0 0.8
Aug 3 0 1
Sep 4 0 1
Oct 10 0 4.3
Nov 13 0 3.6
Dec 19 0 7.6

 

Humidity and Wind

South Lake Tahoe has some comfortably humid months, and dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is August (28.1% relative humidity), and the most humid month is January (53%).

Wind in South Lake Tahoe is usually calm. The windiest month is March, followed by April and December. March’s average wind speed of around 5.4 knots (6.2 MPH or 9.9 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late March where average top sustained speeds reach 14.1 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in South Lake Tahoe.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 3.4 Barely noticeable 10.1 Gentle breeze
Feb 4.7 Light breeze 12.2 Significant breeze
Mar 5.4 Light breeze 12.9 Gentle breeze
Apr 5.2 Light breeze 13 Significant breeze
May 4.7 Light breeze 12.2 Gentle breeze
Jun 4.6 Light breeze 12.2 Significant breeze
Jul 3.8 Barely noticeable 11.4 Gentle breeze
Aug 4.1 Light breeze 11.7 Significant breeze
Sep 3.7 Barely noticeable 11 Gentle breeze
Oct 3.9 Barely noticeable 10.9 Gentle breeze
Nov 4.1 Light breeze 11 Gentle breeze
Dec 4.8 Light breeze 12.3 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 53%
Feb 49.8%
Mar 45.2%
Apr 40.2%
May 38.7%
Jun 32.6%
Jul 31.6%
Aug 28.1%
Sep 30.4%
Oct 42.5%
Nov 47.2%
Dec 52.6%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to South Lake Tahoe?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in South Lake Tahoe, CA, US is July, followed by June and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit South Lake Tahoe in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 44.8 in November means 44.8% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall South Lake Tahoe Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderately cold. Highs range from 68.2°F (20.1°C) and 45.3°F (7.4°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 3 to 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 1 to 2 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in South Lake Tahoe, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 78.9°F (26.1°C) and 49.8°F (9.9°C), which will feel chilly given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 4 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is far too cold this time of year in South Lake Tahoe to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 49°F (9.4°C) and 42.3°F (5.7°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 6 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › South Lake Tahoe, CA, US