South Lake Tahoe, CA weather in December
South Lake Tahoe is chilly and snowy in December: highs average 43°F and nights drop to about 18°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 36.2 in. This is the depth of winter in South Lake Tahoe. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 43°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 6.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 36.2 in
- snow on the ground 24 days
How December changes from start to finish
| December 1 | December 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 18°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:59 am / 4:38 pm | 7:18 am / 4:47 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.5 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 December day
- 6 am37°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am39°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 23°F
- 3 pm42°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm38°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm38°Fdew point 22°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°F0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in11 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more24 of 31
Average days per December, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in December
Normal precipitation is 6.5 in; a dry December brings about 2.6 in and a wet one about 9.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 36.2 in, with about 6 days of an inch or more.
How December varies from year to year
- Warmest December, 1991-20202017: average high 49°F
- Coolest December2001: average high 38°F
- Wettest December2005: 22.7 in
- Driest December2011: 0.4 in
- Highest reading64°F (December 1, 2008)
- Lowest reading-14°F (December 21, 1998)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
December compared with November and January
| November | December | January | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 51°F | 43°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 18°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 10.1 h | 9.5 h | 9.8 h |
Highs change by -8°F from November and 0°F into January.
Nearby alternatives in December
- Warmer: Elk Grove, CA83 mi · high 56°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Reno, NV42 mi · high 47°F · 7 wet days
How South Lake Tahoe ranks in December
- Normal high262nd warmest of 378 cities; 59th of 60 in California
- Wet days264th driest of 378
- Comfortable days297th most of 340
What to pack for South Lake Tahoe in December
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 43°F
- Layers – afternoons near 43°F but nights near 18°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 24 days
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
December has 1073 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is South Lake Tahoe in December?
The normal high is 43°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest December reading was -14°F (December 21, 1998).
Does it rain a lot in South Lake Tahoe in December?
About 11 days in December have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 6.5 in. The wettest December in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (22.7 in); the driest was in 2011 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in South Lake Tahoe in December?
Yes. Normal snowfall in December is 36.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 24 days.
Is December a good time to visit South Lake Tahoe?
December ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Lake Tahoe (30 out of 100). It has almost no 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).