The best time to visit Lake Tahoe is June to September for beaches, boats and hiking, and late November to April for skiing. May and October are quieter, and some services close. The lake sits at high elevation, so even July highs average only 78°F, and Tahoe City averages 35 to 41 inches of snow in each winter month.
Month by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Snow | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F | 21°F | 6.2 in | 38 in | Peak ski season |
| February | 40°F | 21°F | 5.7 in | 41 in | Snowiest month on average |
| March | 45°F | 24°F | 5.0 in | 35 in | Still deep snow |
| April | 50°F | 28°F | 2.2 in | 14 in | Spring skiing; shoulder season |
| May | 59°F | 34°F | 1.6 in | 3 in | Quiet; some services closed |
| June | 69°F | 40°F | 0.6 in | 0 in | Summer opens; beaches and boats |
| July | 78°F | 46°F | 0.2 in | 0 in | Warmest and driest stretch |
| August | 77°F | 45°F | 0.3 in | 0 in | Summer; beach and boat days |
| September | 70°F | 40°F | 0.4 in | 0 in | Summer fades |
| October | 59°F | 33°F | 1.9 in | 2 in | Quiet; some services closed |
| November | 48°F | 26°F | 3.2 in | 9 in | Snow returns; ski season starts late in the month |
| December | 40°F | 21°F | 6.0 in | 36 in | Ski season; chain controls in storms |
Monthly averages 1991-2020 for Tahoe City (NOAA). These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
Summer: June to September
Average highs run from 69°F in June to 78°F in July, with cool nights in the 40s, and July brings only about 0.2 inches of rain. Book ahead for the busiest spots: Sand Harbor requires vehicle day-use reservations daily from May 15 to September 30, and Emerald Bay parking and tours fill up. Prices are highest on summer weekends and in ski season.
Winter: December to March
Snow piles up, with 36 to 41 inches a month in December through February at the Tahoe City station. Chain controls and snow closures can hit US-50, SR-89 and I-80 from fall to spring, so check Caltrans QuickMap (California roads) and Nevada Roads (US-50 and SR-28 on the east shore) before you drive. Book Heavenly lift tickets ahead.
The in-between months
May and October are quieter, with some services closed, so check hours before you count on a particular boat tour, shuttle or restaurant. Local buses help on busy days: TART in the north and BlueGO in the south, plus summer shuttles.
The monthly numbers are for the Tahoe City station on the north shore; the south shore and higher elevations are colder and snowier.
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