South Lake Tahoe, CA weather in April
Expect chilly, snowy weather in South Lake Tahoe in April, with highs near 53°F and lows near 28°F. Rain or snow falls on about 7 days. Snowfall averages about 14.0 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 53°F
- Normal low
- 28°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 14.0 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How April changes from start to finish
| April 1 | April 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 30°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 21% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:44 am / 7:23 pm | 6:03 am / 7:51 pm |
| Daylight | 12.7 h | 13.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical April day
- 6 am41°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am46°Fdew point 27°F
- Noon49°Fdew point 29°F
- 3 pm49°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm46°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 31°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Blue Canyon Airport (46 mi away); average wind 6 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 of 30
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 30
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 30
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow7 of 30
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 30
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 30
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 30
Average days per April, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in April
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry April brings about 1.1 in and a wet one about 2.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 14.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How April varies from year to year
- Warmest April, 1991-20201992: average high 61°F
- Coolest April2003: average high 43°F
- Wettest April1995: 5.9 in
- Driest April2004: 0.1 in
- Highest reading75°F (April 28, 2020)
- Lowest reading6°F (April 9, 1999)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
April compared with March and May
| March | April | May | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 53°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 28°F | 33°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 5 | 14 |
| Daylight | 12.0 h | 13.2 h | 14.3 h |
Highs change by +5°F from March and +9°F into May.
Nearby alternatives in April
- Warmer: Reno, NV42 mi · high 65°F · 5 wet days
- Drier: Visalia, CA184 mi · high 73°F · 4 wet days
How South Lake Tahoe ranks in April
- Normal high348th warmest of 378 cities; 59th of 60 in California
- Wet days138th driest of 378
- Comfortable days296th most of 340
What to pack for South Lake Tahoe in April
- A warm jacket – lows near 28°F, highs near 53°F
- Layers – afternoons near 53°F but nights near 28°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
April has 738 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 10% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is South Lake Tahoe in April?
The normal high is 53°F and the normal low is 28°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest April reading was 6°F (April 9, 1999).
Does it rain a lot in South Lake Tahoe in April?
About 7 days in April have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest April in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (5.9 in); the driest was in 2004 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in South Lake Tahoe in April?
Yes. Normal snowfall in April is 14.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is April a good time to visit South Lake Tahoe?
April ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Lake Tahoe (54 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature: South Lake Tahoe Airport (USW00093230), 2.5 mi SSW of the city center, 6,314 ft (76 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain: Fallen Leaf (USS0020L10S), 3.5 mi W of the city center, 6,236 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Tahoe City (USC00048758), 18 mi NNW of the city center, 6,230 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Glenbrook (USC00263205), 10 mi NNE of the city center, 6,350 ft (112 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Blue Canyon Airport (USW00023225), 46 mi WNW of the city center, 5,276 ft (962 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Lake Tahoe Airport (725847-93230), 2.5 mi SSW of the city center, 6,257 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).