South Lake Tahoe, CA weather in March
South Lake Tahoe is chilly and snowy in March: highs average 48°F and nights drop to about 24°F. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 34.7 in. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 4.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 34.7 in
- snow on the ground 26 days
How March changes from start to finish
| March 1 | March 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 29% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:32 am / 5:52 pm | 6:45 am / 7:22 pm |
| Daylight | 11.3 h | 12.6 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 March day
- 6 am38°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 am42°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon45°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 29°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 29°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°F1 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in10 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more26 of 31
Average days per March, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in March
Normal precipitation is 4.6 in; a dry March brings about 1.6 in and a wet one about 6.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 34.7 in, with about 7 days of an inch or more.
How March varies from year to year
- Warmest March, 1991-20202015: average high 59°F
- Coolest March2006: average high 37°F
- Wettest March1995: 14.6 in
- Driest March1994: 0.4 in
- Highest reading71°F (March 30, 2015)
- Lowest reading-6°F (March 5, 2018)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
March compared with February and April
| February | March | April | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 48°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 24°F | 28°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Daylight | 10.8 h | 12.0 h | 13.2 h |
Highs change by +5°F from February and +5°F into April.
Nearby alternatives in March
- Warmer: Reno, NV42 mi · high 59°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Reno, NV42 mi · high 59°F · 6 wet days
How South Lake Tahoe ranks in March
- Normal high289th warmest of 378 cities; 59th of 60 in California
- Wet days212th driest of 378
- Comfortable days309th most of 339
What to pack for South Lake Tahoe in March
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 26 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
March has 907 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is South Lake Tahoe in March?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest March reading was -6°F (March 5, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in South Lake Tahoe in March?
About 10 days in March have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.6 in. The wettest March in 1991-2020 was in 1995 (14.6 in); the driest was in 1994 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in South Lake Tahoe in March?
Yes. Normal snowfall in March is 34.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 26 days.
Is March a good time to visit South Lake Tahoe?
March ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Lake Tahoe (41 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. 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).