Climateby Month

South Lake Tahoe vs Reno weather

South Lake Tahoe, CA and Reno, NV · 42 mi apart

July highs: 80°F in South Lake Tahoe, 94°F in Reno (Reno is 14°F warmer). January highs: 43°F and 48°F (Reno is 5°F warmer). South Lake Tahoe has about 73 wet days a year, Reno about 51. Snow: 179.0 in a year in South Lake Tahoe, 29.7 in in Reno.

South Lake Tahoe, CA

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 43°F (6°C), low 18°F (-8°C) 43° 18° February: normal high 43°F (6°C), low 19°F (-7°C) March: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 24°F (-4°C) April: normal high 53°F (12°C), low 28°F (-2°C) May: normal high 62°F (17°C), low 33°F (1°C) June: normal high 72°F (22°C), low 38°F (3°C) July: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 43°F (6°C) 80° 43° August: normal high 80°F (27°C), low 41°F (5°C) September: normal high 73°F (23°C), low 35°F (2°C) October: normal high 62°F (17°C), low 29°F (-2°C) November: normal high 51°F (11°C), low 23°F (-5°C) December: normal high 43°F (6°C), low 18°F (-8°C) JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: June

Reno, NV

0°20°40°60°80°100° January: normal high 48°F (9°C), low 26°F (-3°C) February: normal high 52°F (11°C), low 29°F (-2°C) March: normal high 59°F (15°C), low 34°F (1°C) April: normal high 65°F (18°C), low 39°F (4°C) May: normal high 74°F (23°C), low 47°F (8°C) June: normal high 85°F (29°C), low 54°F (12°C) July: normal high 94°F (34°C), low 60°F (16°C) 94° 60° August: normal high 92°F (33°C), low 58°F (14°C) September: normal high 84°F (29°C), low 50°F (10°C) October: normal high 70°F (21°C), low 40°F (4°C) November: normal high 57°F (14°C), low 31°F (-1°C) December: normal high 47°F (8°C), low 26°F (-3°C) 47° 26° JFMAMJJASOND

Best months: April, May

Which city for what

  • Milder winters: Reno (January high 48°F vs January high 43°F)
  • Cooler summers: South Lake Tahoe (July high 80°F vs July high 94°F)
  • Fewer wet days: Reno (51 a year vs 73 a year)
  • Less snow: Reno (29.7 in vs 179.0 in)
  • Longer growing season: Reno (184 frost-free days vs 126 frost-free days)
  • More comfortable days: South Lake Tahoe (102 a year vs 86 a year)

Listed only where the difference is at least 3°F in highs, 10 days a year or 3 in of snow.

Season by season

SeasonAvg high South Lake TahoeAvg high RenoWet days South Lake TahoeWet days Reno
Winter (Dec-Feb)43°F49°F3121
Spring (Mar-May)54°F66°F2214
Summer (Jun-Aug)77°F90°F66
Fall (Sep-Nov)62°F70°F149

Side by side over a year

South Lake TahoeReno
Hot days (90°F+)165
Freezing nights223122
Muggy days00
Comfortable days10286
Precipitation33.6 in7.3 in
Snowfall179.0 in29.7 in
Frost dateslast Jun 5, first Oct 9last Apr 20, first Oct 23
Daylight in June / December14.8 h / 9.5 h14.9 h / 9.4 h
Best monthsJuneApril, May

Day counts from each city's daily records, 1991-2020. Comfortable days: highs 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F.

Month by month

MonthHigh South Lake TahoeHigh RenoWet days South Lake TahoeWet days Reno
January43°F48°F107
February43°F52°F107
March48°F59°F106
April53°F65°F75
May62°F74°F54
June72°F85°F33
July80°F94°F12
August80°F92°F22
September73°F84°F22
October62°F70°F43
November51°F57°F74
December43°F47°F117

Both charts use the same temperature scale.

Where the numbers come from

  • South Lake Tahoe, CA: temperature from South Lake Tahoe Airport (USW00093230), 2.5 mi SSW of the city center; precipitation from Fallen Leaf (USS0020L10S). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.
  • Reno, NV: temperature from Reno Tahoe Intl Airport (USW00023185), 3.9 mi SE of the city center; precipitation from Reno Tahoe Intl Airport (USW00023185). NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records.

Every station for each city, including humidity and frost, is listed on the city page. Methodology.