Lake Tahoe Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Lake Tahoe: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Lake Tahoe month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41° | 27° | 2,3 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 41° | 28° | 6,1 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 46° | 31° | 4,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| April | 51° | 33° | 1,8 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| May | 61° | 42° | 1,1 in | ★★★★☆ |
| June | 73° | 52° | 0,1 in | ★★★★★ |
| July | 79° | 58° | 0,4 in | ★★★★★ |
| August | 77° | 56° | 0,6 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 69° | 51° | 1,1 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 59° | 42° | 1,6 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 47° | 33° | 3,0 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 44° | 31° | 3,8 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Temperate. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Lake Tahoe
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Lake Tahoe compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Lake Tahoe.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tahoe | 0 mi | 48°F | about the same | 26 in |
| Emerald Bay State Park | 11 mi | 47°F | 34°F cooler | 34 in |
| Nevada | 15 mi | 54°F | +37°F warmer | 15 in |
| Reno | 32 mi | 54°F | +38°F warmer | 15 in |
| Sacramento | 86 mi | 63°F | +47°F warmer | 27 in |
Best time to visit Lake Tahoe
Go in June, July, August and September. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Lake Tahoe
Today is much colder than average for August. The forecast high of 52°F is 24.7°F below the 77°F typical for this month.
Rain is very unlikely today - plans do not need a backup.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 67°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- Layers - the daily swing is 67°F, so mornings feel nothing like afternoons
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Lake Tahoe is a city in California. Lake Tahoe is known for Alpine lake with ski and summer seasons. It has a population of about 22.000.
Right now it is 46°F (8°C) in Lake Tahoe with clear sky. It feels like 36°F. Today runs from 41°F to 52°F. Chance of precipitation is 7%. Sightseeing conditions score 7.8/10 - good conditions.
The best time to visit Lake Tahoe is June, July, August and September. The climate is temperate. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 79°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 27°F.
The closest major airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), about 163 mi away. Nearby highlights include Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay State Park, Yosemite National Park and Half Dome.
In plain terms. Today is much colder than average for August. The forecast high of 52°F is 24.7°F below the 77°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 2 PM to 5 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. stargazing is the strongest bet in Lake Tahoe today at 9.8/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Lake Tahoe
| Type | City |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 39°5′48.5″N 120°1′56.6″W (39.0968, -120.0324) |
| Population | 22.000 |
| Known for | Alpine lake with ski and summer seasons |
| Local time | 5:56 AM (UTC-07:00) |
| Best months | June, July, August and September |
| Climate | Temperate |
Weather map for Lake Tahoe
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Lake Tahoe
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lake Tahoe?
Lake Tahoe is a city in California. Its coordinates are 39.0968, -120.0324. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Lake Tahoe right now?
It is currently 46°F (8°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 48% and wind is 14 mph.
When is the best time to visit Lake Tahoe?
June, July, August and September offer the most comfortable conditions in Lake Tahoe, which has a temperate climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Lake Tahoe in?
Lake Tahoe observes America/Los_Angeles (UTC-07:00). The local time is 5:56 AM.
How many people live in Lake Tahoe?
Lake Tahoe has a population of approximately 22.000.
What is the nearest airport to Lake Tahoe?
The closest airports are San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 163 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Lake Tahoe?
Popular options include Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay State Park, Yosemite National Park, Half Dome, Lassen Volcanic National Park and Alcatraz Island.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (cities-us) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 23, 2026 at 5:56 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
