About Lake Tahoe - Weather

Lake Tahoe Weather

• Most people outside of the California/Northern Nevada region think of Lake Tahoe as a world class ski destination, and they're right. What most don't know (coming from Florida I certainly didn't) is what a popular summer destination we have here. Actually, the summers bring in more tourists than the winter. Why, you ask. It's simple. The weather is outstanding! When the temperature in Sacramento and Reno nears the century mark, it is approaching 80 here. A typical July day starts off at 40 degrees but climbs rapidly to an average of 79 degrees (averages). Also coming from Florida I was used to the daily thunderstorms that you could set your watch to. Here they are almost non-existent. The main event which could hamper any fun plans would be occasional high wind.
  The winters are equally mild, with an average January day ranging from 15 to 41 degrees. Compare that to Vail which ranges from 0 to 31, or Jackson Hole (5 to 28), or Stowe (1 to 25). Mild does not mean we don't get snow. We do, and lots of it. In fact, Kirkwood Mountain Resort averages over 500 inches of snow per season!
  
  

Use the links below to find information on weather, road conditions, avalanche conditions, and more.

Forecast Links
• Storm Briefing - If there is a storm headed our way, this NOAA Audio-Visual briefing details all the action.
• Detailed forecast area discussion (NOAA)
• Powder specific forecast for the Sierra
• 10 Day Forecast - Weather.com
• 36 Hr Forecast - Weather.com
• National Weather Service - 7 Day - Stateline, Nv
• National Weather Service - 7 Day - South Lake Tahoe, Ca
• National Weather Service - 7 Day - Tahoe City, Ca
• National Weather Service - 7 Day - Incline Village, Nv
• Custom Forecast for Kirkwood, Ca
Satellite Links
• Weather.com - West Coast US Satellite
• GOES 10-West CONUS Infrared - That means Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite #10 West Continental United States
• Alaska Satellite Imagery - From the National Weather Service. This is where the good storms are born.
Lake Tahoe Radar Links
• Weather.com 600 mile interactive Doppler Loop
• Wunderground.com - NEXRAD out of Sacramento. You can highlight an area to zoom in on. Very Cool, but always a lot of ground clutter.
California and Nevada Road Condition Links
• Highway 89 (includes Emerald Bay and Luther Pass)
• Highway 88 (to Kirkwood, includes the Carson Spur and Carson Pass
• US Highway 50 (Echo Summit)
• Interstate 80
• Brockway Summit (SR 267)
• All Nevada Road Conditions - includes Spooner Pass, Mount Rose Highway (SR431), Kingsbury Grade (SR207), as well as Highway 395 and more.
Snow Observations
• Sierra Avalanche Center - Daily avalanche reports and advisories for the central Sierra, from Sonora Pass north to Yuba Pass
• Sierra Snow Depths from Snotel reporting stations. You decide which one and for what time period.
• Snow Crystals.com - If your fascinated by snow, you'll love this one.
More Links
• Northern Sierra Weather History Info
• El Niño or La Niña info
• Dreamflows.com - River flow information.


Weather and your wedding

A couple enjoys a quick May snowshower during their wedding at Edgewood.

• One of the most common questions we get involves outdoor weddings in Lake Tahoe. What will the weather be like on my wedding day? When is it safe to plan an outdoor wedding in Lake Tahoe? There are no absolute answers to these questions. A general answer would be that you can usually rely on the weather between mid-May and mid-October. If you're planning a casual wedding on the beach where you hope everyone will be able to go swimming, then July and August are your best bet. But keep in mind it can, and often does snow in every month of the year. Often more important than whether it's snowing is what the wind is doing. A cold wind can be much more uncomfortable and persistent than a spring or summer snow shower. And trust me when I say you would much rather have snow than rain during your ceremony. The key is to be prepared for any eventuality that may arise, such as wind, cold, or snow. Now that we've scared you, consider that the summer weather is generally more reliable here than most places on this planet.