Best time to visit South Lake Tahoe
The best time to visit South Lake Tahoe is June–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
South Lake Tahoe, California, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.7 °C / 39 °F | -4.2 °C / 24 °F | 131 mm / 5.2 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 4.6 °C / 40 °F | -4.2 °C / 24 °F | 136 mm / 5.3 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 6 °C / 43 °F | -3 °C / 27 °F | 141 mm / 5.5 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 9.6 °C / 49 °F | -1.5 °C / 29 °F | 65 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| May | 15.1 °C / 59 °F | 2.3 °C / 36 °F | 50 mm / 2 in | good month |
| June | 22 °C / 72 °F | 7.3 °C / 45 °F | 19 mm / 0.7 in | best month |
| July | 27.1 °C / 81 °F | 11.4 °C / 53 °F | 12 mm / 0.5 in | best month |
| August | 26.3 °C / 79 °F | 11.4 °C / 53 °F | 12 mm / 0.5 in | best month |
| September | 22.7 °C / 73 °F | 8.9 °C / 48 °F | 20 mm / 0.8 in | best month |
| October | 15.9 °C / 61 °F | 3.2 °C / 38 °F | 51 mm / 2 in | good month |
| November | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | -1.8 °C / 29 °F | 76 mm / 3 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 3.7 °C / 39 °F | -4.5 °C / 24 °F | 147 mm / 5.8 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: neither
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–September
- Good
- May, October
Why these months
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 8.4 days, relative humidity 61%.
Against: average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.5 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 22 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 19 mm / 0.7 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 4.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, relative humidity 49%, average daily low 7.3 °C / 45 °F.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 25.8 °C / 78 °F, precipitation 12 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, average daily high 27.1 °C / 81 °F, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 44%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 12 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 97%, average daily high 26.3 °C / 79 °F, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 46%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.2 °C / 68 °F, average daily high 22.7 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 20 mm / 0.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, relative humidity 49%, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F.
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, feels like (high) 12.6 °C / 55 °F, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, relative humidity 59%.
Against: average daily low 3.2 °C / 38 °F.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–June, August–October
- Good
- July, November
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: precipitation 65 mm / 2.6 in, average daily high 9.6 °C / 49 °F, wet days 8.3 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 13.3 h, feels like (high) 7.3 °C / 45 °F, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 8 mph.
Against: average daily low -1.5 °C / 29 °F.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.1 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 50 mm / 2 in, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, wet days 8.4 days, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 14.3 h, average daily low 2.3 °C / 36 °F, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 22 °C / 72 °F, precipitation 19 mm / 0.7 in, wet days 4.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, feels like (high) 20.5 °C / 69 °F, average daily low 7.3 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.9 h, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.
July · good
In its favour: precipitation 12 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 95%, daylight per day 14.6 h, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, feels like (high) 25.8 °C / 78 °F.
Against: average daily high 27.1 °C / 81 °F.
August · best
In its favour: precipitation 12 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.2 days, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 97%, daylight per day 13.6 h, feels like (high) 24.6 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph.
Against: average daily high 26.3 °C / 79 °F.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.7 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 20 mm / 0.8 in, wet days 3.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.5 days, feels like (high) 20.2 °C / 68 °F, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 51 mm / 2 in, wet days 5.2 days, days with heavy rain 1.3 days, feels like (high) 12.6 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily low 3.2 °C / 38 °F, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
November · good
In its favour: precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, average daily high 8.6 °C / 47 °F, wet days 7.9 days, share of daylight that is sunny 86%, days with heavy rain 3 days, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.
Against: average daily low -1.8 °C / 29 °F, feels like (high) 5 °C / 41 °F.
Skiing and snow
Wants cold and snowfall; sunshine barely matters.
- JJanuary: best
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: best
- Best
- November–April
Why these months
January · best
In its favour: snowfall 80 cm / 31.5 in, days with snow 12.1 days, average daily high 3.7 °C / 39 °F, average daily low -4.2 °C / 24 °F, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph, daylight per day 9.8 h.
February · best
In its favour: snowfall 81 cm / 32 in, days with snow 12.7 days, average daily low -4.2 °C / 24 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 10.8 h.
Against: average daily high 4.6 °C / 40 °F.
March · best
In its favour: snowfall 89 cm / 34.8 in, days with snow 14.7 days, average daily low -3 °C / 27 °F, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 8 mph, daylight per day 12 h.
Against: average daily high 6 °C / 43 °F.
April · best
In its favour: snowfall 35 cm / 13.9 in, days with snow 9.8 days, average daily low -1.5 °C / 29 °F, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 8 mph, daylight per day 13.3 h.
Against: average daily high 9.6 °C / 49 °F.
November · best
In its favour: snowfall 35 cm / 13.8 in, days with snow 8.2 days, average daily low -1.8 °C / 29 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.
Against: average daily high 8.6 °C / 47 °F.
December · best
In its favour: snowfall 84 cm / 32.9 in, days with snow 12.7 days, average daily high 3.7 °C / 39 °F, average daily low -4.5 °C / 24 °F, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph, daylight per day 9.5 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Heavenly Mountain Resort, 4 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 0.1 °C | 0.9 °C | 2.9 °C | 7.3 °C | 13.3 °C | 20.5 °C | 25.8 °C | 24.6 °C | 20.2 °C | 12.6 °C | 5 °C | 0.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 4.5 days | 4.3 days | 4.8 days | 2 days | 1.4 days | 0.3 days | 0.1 days | 0.2 days | 0.5 days | 1.3 days | 3 days | 5.1 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 5 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 7.8 h | 8.9 h | 10.1 h | 11.7 h | 13.1 h | 13.6 h | 13.8 h | 13.2 h | 11.7 h | 10.1 h | 8.6 h | 7.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 75% | 72% | 71% | 67% | 61% | 49% | 44% | 46% | 49% | 59% | 70% | 77% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 3.9 µg/m³ | 4.7 µg/m³ | 4.4 µg/m³ | 6.2 µg/m³ | 6.3 µg/m³ | 5.9 µg/m³ | 5.3 µg/m³ | 4.9 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 3.8 µg/m³ | 3.9 µg/m³ | 3.7 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 7.9 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 10.1 µg/m³ | 8.8 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 16.4 µg/m³ | 6.5 µg/m³ | 7.6 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.