South Lake Tahoe, CA weather in October
In October, South Lake Tahoe sees highs around 62°F and lows around 29°F: cool and mostly dry. There are about 4 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 2.4 in. Good for outdoor plans.
- Normal high
- 62°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.4 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How October changes from start to finish
| October 1 | October 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 68°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 11% | 17% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:56 am / 6:43 pm | 7:26 am / 6:00 pm |
| Daylight | 11.8 h | 10.6 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 October day
- 6 am51°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am56°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon60°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm60°Fdew point 32°F
- 6 pm54°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 pm53°Fdew point 30°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°F15 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 snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per October, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in October
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry October brings about 1.0 in and a wet one about 2.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 2.4 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How October varies from year to year
- Warmest October, 1991-20202020: average high 70°F
- Coolest October2004: average high 55°F
- Wettest October2016: 10.4 in
- Driest October1995: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading82°F (October 9, 1996)
- Lowest reading9°F (October 30, 2019)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
October compared with September and November
| September | October | November | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 73°F | 62°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 29°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 21 | 15 | 2 |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | 11.2 h | 10.1 h |
Highs change by -11°F from September and -11°F into November.
Nearby alternatives in October
- Warmer: Reno, NV42 mi · high 70°F · 3 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA241 mi · high 93°F · 1 wet day
How South Lake Tahoe ranks in October
- Normal high293rd warmest of 378 cities; 59th of 60 in California
- Wet days77th driest of 378
- Comfortable days91st most of 340
What to pack for South Lake Tahoe in October
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 62°F
- Layers – afternoons near 62°F but nights near 29°F
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Frost in October
The first fall frost typically comes around Oct 9; in 1 year in 10 it comes before Sep 24. All frost dates for South Lake Tahoe.
Heating and cooling
October has 598 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 8% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is South Lake Tahoe in October?
The normal high is 62°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest October reading was 9°F (October 30, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in South Lake Tahoe in October?
About 4 days in October have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest October in 1991-2020 was in 2016 (10.4 in); the driest was in 1995, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in South Lake Tahoe in October?
Yes. Normal snowfall in October is 2.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is October a good time to visit South Lake Tahoe?
October ranks 6th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Lake Tahoe (65 out of 100). It has about 15 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).