South Lake Tahoe, CA weather in May
May in South Lake Tahoe: cool and mostly dry. Highs 62°F, lows 33°F, rain or snow on about 5 days and about 2.8 in of snow. A great month for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 62°F
- Normal low
- 33°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.8 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How May changes from start to finish
| May 1 | May 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 57°F | 67°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 19% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:01 am / 7:52 pm | 5:36 am / 8:18 pm |
| Daylight | 13.8 h | 14.7 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 May day
- 6 am49°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 am55°Fdew point 32°F
- Noon58°Fdew point 35°F
- 3 pm58°Fdew point 36°F
- 6 pm55°Fdew point 37°F
- 9 pm50°Fdew point 37°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Blue Canyon Airport (46 mi away); average wind 5 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F14 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below15 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per May, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in May
Normal precipitation is 1.5 in; a dry May brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 2.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.8 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How May varies from year to year
- Warmest May, 1991-20202001: average high 71°F
- Coolest May1998: average high 51°F
- Wettest May2005: 4.3 in
- Driest May2001: 0.1 in
- Highest reading84°F (May 17, 2008)
- Lowest reading10°F (May 12, 2000)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
May compared with April and June
| April | May | June | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 53°F | 62°F | 72°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 33°F | 38°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 14 | 20 |
| Daylight | 13.2 h | 14.3 h | 14.8 h |
Highs change by +9°F from April and +10°F into June.
Nearby alternatives in May
- Warmer: Reno, NV42 mi · high 74°F · 4 wet days
- Drier: Visalia, CA184 mi · high 81°F · 2 wet days
How South Lake Tahoe ranks in May
- Normal high352nd warmest of 378 cities; 59th of 60 in California
- Wet days85th driest of 378
- Comfortable days139th most of 339
What to pack for South Lake Tahoe in May
- A warm jacket – lows near 33°F, highs near 62°F
- Layers – afternoons near 62°F but nights near 33°F
Heating and cooling
May has 538 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 7% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is South Lake Tahoe in May?
The normal high is 62°F and the normal low is 33°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest May reading was 10°F (most recently on May 12, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in South Lake Tahoe in May?
About 5 days in May have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.5 in. The wettest May in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (4.3 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in South Lake Tahoe in May?
Yes. Normal snowfall in May is 2.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is May a good time to visit South Lake Tahoe?
May ranks 5th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Lake Tahoe (72 out of 100). It has about 14 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).