AI-generatedSouth Lake Tahoe at a glance
- Best time
- May – Oct
- Warmest month
- Jul · 27°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,840 h
- Rain a year
- 566 mm
- Climate
- Continental
- Time zone
- UTC−8 / UTC−7
- Elevation
- 1,901 m
Climate in South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe has warm to hot summers and cold winters with occasional snow. July is the warmest month with average highs of 27 °C, while January is the coolest at 3 °C. With around 2,840 hours of sunshine a year, South Lake Tahoe is sunny; July is the sunniest month with 11.0 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: May – October
Best for skiing: January – March
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 8°
- Midday, 13:00: about 15°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 11°
- Night, 23:00: about 9°
07:0818:23
Cold evenings: bring a warm jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:52–07:44 · evening 17:47–18:40
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:41–06:52 · evening 18:40–18:50
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in South Lake Tahoe in October?
In October, South Lake Tahoe is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 33 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 15 min07:08 – 18:23
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 10 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 32 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Snow days
- 1 day1 cm or more of fresh snowAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−7America/Los_Angeles
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %94 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %72 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %97 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Mountain air”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- A jumper for the evenings
Sunshine hours in South Lake Tahoe
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 7.3 of 11.3 hours of daylight in South Lake Tahoe, 65 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in South Lake Tahoe
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 50 min
- Olive skin
- about 60 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in South Lake Tahoe: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, South Lake Tahoe has about 4 rainy days with 33 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in South Lake Tahoe
How breezy and how cloudy South Lake Tahoe is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in South Lake Tahoe typically peaks at 10 km/h during the day: Beaufort 2, light air.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 32 % of the sky over South Lake Tahoe: mostly sunny, with about 7.3 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in South Lake Tahoe
How often the day gets hot in South Lake Tahoe (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, South Lake Tahoe has about 0 hot days, with an average daytime high of 15 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Snow in South Lake Tahoe
When South Lake Tahoe is likely to be white: the chance of seeing snow during a week's stay, the days with fresh snow and how much falls. Tap a month to select it.
Snow calendar
- hardly any
- possible
- likely
- very likely
In October, South Lake Tahoe has about 1 days with at least 1 cm of fresh snow, 6 cm in total. The chance of seeing snow during a week's stay is 16 out of 100: hardly any. On the slopes at about 2,500 m, the ski season usually runs Jan – Mar.
Snow days bring at least 1 cm of fresh snow. Fresh snow comes from ERA5 snowfall (1996–2025) at the height of the place, not on the slopes above it; the snow chance also weighs whether the snow settles. An estimate from climate averages, not a snow report.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in South Lake Tahoe
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Frost below 0°
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
ColdOctober: nights around 6°. The room should be heated.
The coolest nights are in February (−4°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) in August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from October to May, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 26 | 3° | −3° | 4.9 h | 9 | 96 |
| FebruaryFeb | 27 | 3° | −4° | 5.7 h | 10 | 91 |
| MarchMar | 32 | 6° | −2° | 6.9 h | 9 | 73 |
| AprilApr | 56 | 9° | 0° | 8.2 h | 7 | 39 |
| MayMay | 89 | 15° | 4° | 9.3 h | 7 | 33 |
| JuneJun | 100 | 22° | 10° | 10.8 h | 3 | 14 |
| JulyJul | 85 | 27° | 14° | 11.0 h | 3 | 10 |
| AugustAug | 90 | 26° | 15° | 10.4 h | 3 | 10 |
| SeptemberSep | 100 | 22° | 12° | 8.9 h | 3 | 13 |
| OctoberOct | 90 | 15° | 6° | 7.3 h | 4 | 33 |
| NovemberNov | 41 | 8° | 0° | 5.4 h | 7 | 52 |
| DecemberDec | 23 | 3° | −4° | 4.4 h | 10 | 103 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
38.93° N, 119.98° W · 1,901 m · America/Los_Angeles
Best time to visit South Lake Tahoe
The best time to visit South Lake Tahoe is from May to October. Hiking and mountain trips are best from May to June and from August to October, when the trails are largely free of snow. The wettest month is December with 103 mm of precipitation.
South Lake Tahoe through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
South Lake Tahoe in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 6–15 °C by day
- 8 h of sun a day
- 23 rainy days in all
South Lake Tahoe in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 22–27 °C by day
- 11 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days in all
South Lake Tahoe in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 8–22 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days in all
South Lake Tahoe in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 3 °C by day
- 5 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in South Lake Tahoe for you.
Your best months: June, September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in South Lake Tahoe
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in South Lake Tahoe: score 100 against 90. In June, days are 7 °C warmer than in October. June has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 90 | 100better |
| Day high | 15° | 22° |
| Night low | 6° | 10° |
| Sunshine | 7.3 h | 10.8 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 4 | 3better |
| Rainfall | 33 mm | 14 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Hiking & mountain trips
May – Jun, Aug – Oct
13–27 °C in the village, little snow
Snow
Nov – Apr
Snow on 2 or more days
Best for skiing
Jan – Mar
Estimated snow conditions on slopes at about 2,500 m, from snowfall, temperature and sunshine. A climate estimate, not a snow report.
South Lake Tahoe month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
26January3° · 5 h
In January, South Lake Tahoe is cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−3 °C). Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 9 days, totalling 96 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in January27February3° · 6 h
In February, South Lake Tahoe is cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−4 °C). Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 91 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in February32March6° · 7 h
In March, South Lake Tahoe is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−2 °C). The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 73 mm in total. Snow falls on about 7 days. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in March56April9° · 8 h
In April, South Lake Tahoe is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (0 °C). The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 39 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in April89May15° · 9 h
In May, South Lake Tahoe is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 33 mm. Snow falls on about 2 days. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in May100June22° · 11 h
In June, South Lake Tahoe is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in June85July27° · 11 h
In July, South Lake Tahoe is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 10 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in July90August26° · 10 h
In August, South Lake Tahoe is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 10 mm in total. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in August100September22° · 9 h
In September, South Lake Tahoe is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 13 mm in total. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in September90October15° · 7 h
In October, South Lake Tahoe is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 33 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in October41November8° · 5 h
In November, South Lake Tahoe is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 0 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 7 days, adding up to 52 mm. Snow falls on about 5 days. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in November23December3° · 4 h
In December, South Lake Tahoe is cold: daytime highs average 3 °C, and nights often drop below freezing (−4 °C). Expect around 4 hours of sunshine a day. Precipitation, often as snow, falls on about 10 days, totalling 103 mm. Snow falls on about 8 days. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in South Lake Tahoe.
South Lake Tahoe in DecemberSouth Lake Tahoe compared
Put South Lake Tahoe side by side with another destination.
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South Lake Tahoe vs. Reno
In October Reno has the better holiday weather (score 97 vs. 90). During the day Reno is 4 °C warmer than South Lake Tahoe. Reno gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | South Lake Tahoe | Reno |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 90 | 97 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 19° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 4 | 3 |
| Best time | May – Oct | May – Jun, Sep – Oct |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, South Lake Tahoe ranks 16 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Las Vegas26°99
- 2Mariposa (Yosemite)23°98
- 3Los Angeles26°19°98
- 4Long Beach25°19°98
- 5Sedona23°97
- 6Sacramento25°96
- 7San Jose23°96
- 8Page (Lake Powell)21°96
- 16South Lake TahoeThis page15°90
Planning a trip to South Lake Tahoe
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
South Lake Tahoe in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
South Lake Tahoe has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 91) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 49).
- 49
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 8 °C by day
- 7.8 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
- 91
May half-term
May – Jun
ExcellentBest holidays
- 16 °C by day
- 9.6 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 88
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Excellent
- 27 °C by day
- 10.6 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
- 90
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 15 °C by day
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 79
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good · ski conditions
- 3 °C by day
- 4.7 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Snow
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 10 h 35 min
- Distance
- 8,380 km
- Time zone
- UTC−7
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (8 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about South Lake Tahoe
When is the best time to visit South Lake Tahoe?
The best time to visit South Lake Tahoe is from May to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in South Lake Tahoe?
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 27 °C and nights around 14 °C. January is the coolest month at 3 °C.
When does it rain most in South Lake Tahoe?
The wettest month is December with 103 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 10 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does South Lake Tahoe get?
South Lake Tahoe gets around 2,840 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 11.0 hours a day; in December there are 4.4 hours a day.
What time zone is South Lake Tahoe in?
South Lake Tahoe uses the time zone America/Los_Angeles: UTC−8 in January and UTC−7 in July.
How long is the flight from London to South Lake Tahoe?
A nonstop flight from London to South Lake Tahoe takes about 10 h 35 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,380 km.
Which school holidays are best for South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 91) and its weakest during the Easter holidays (score 49). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 49, May half-term 91, Summer holidays 88, October half-term 90, Christmas holidays 79 (Ski).
Near South Lake Tahoe
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like South Lake Tahoe
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to South Lake Tahoe's – good alternatives.