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Contents: Current Conditions | Sample Averages | Cooperative Observer Network (COOP) Stations | Snowfall
Current Conditions:
Weather can't be forecast more than a week or so in advance, but weather averages are good indicators of what to expect any month.
Current Conditions:
Weather Chnl: Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City
AccuWeather: Lake Tahoe
Soda Springs
Northern California at the National Weather Service by the U. Utah
Meyers
Other forecast links:
With the exception of developed recreation sites, campfires and charcoal barbecues will be prohibited in the Lake Tahoe Basin beginning Saturday, July 12.Tahoe NF
Fire Restrictions (Tahoe NF, Tahoe Basin
Averages:
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Lake Tahoe
| Temperatures - Tahoe City |
| Month | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep |
| Avg. High °F | 60° | 48° | 41° | 40° | 42° | 45° | 51° | 60° | 69° | 78° | 77° | 70° |
| Avg. Low °F | 32° | 26° | 21° | 20° | 21° | 24° | 28° | 34° | 40° | 45° | 45° | 40° |
| Record Low | 9° | 1° | -16° | -14° | -15° | -6° | 5° | 9° | 24° | 22° | 35° | 21° |
| Year | 1971 | 1931 | 1972 | 1937 | 1989 | 1935 | 1999 | 1974 | 1982 | 1975 | 1942 | 1965 |
| Avg. Precip. (in.) | 2.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| Snow - Tahoe City 1917-2007 at the Western Regional Climate Center |
| Avg. snowfall (in.) | 2.5 | 16 | 35 | 43 | 38 | 35 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avg. snow depth | 0 | 2 | 10 | 21 | 30 | 27 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Snow - South Lake Tahoe at USA Today |
| Avg. snowfall (in.) | 3 | 17 | 34 | 44 | 37 | 36 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avg. snow depth | 0 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 30 | 28 | 14 | 2 | T | 0 | 0 | T |
| Snow - Squaw Valley Lodge 1955-75 |
| Avg. snowfall (in.) | 4.3 | 24 | 47 | 55 | 50 | 36 | 22 | 8 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 |
| Avg. snow depth | 0 | 4 | 19 | 33 | 44 | 40 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Snowfall - Squaw Valley Mountain 2003-2008 |
| Avg. Snowfall | 0 | 40 | 123 | 74 | 57 | 91 | 67 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Temp is ° F. - Snow Depth is inches
Source: Temp. -Weather Channel (Tahoe City) ; Snow Depth - S Tahoe at USA Today; Snow - Squaw Valley Lodge at the Western Regional Climate Center
Soda Springs
| Month | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep |
| Avg. High °F | 60° | 46° | 39° | 39° | 42° | 46° | 52° | 61° | 70° | 78° | 77° | 71° |
| Avg. Low °F | 26° | 20° | 14° | 14° | 16° | 20° | 24° | 29° | 34° | 37° | 37° | 32° |
| Record Low | 7° | -10° | -28° | -21° | -33° | -9° | -3° | 10° | 18° | 24° | 25° | 16° |
| Avg. Precip. (in.) | 2.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| Snow - Soda Springs 1961-1998 |
| Avg. snowfall (in.) | 0 | 52 | 53 | 104 | 57 | 77 | 51 | 13 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avg. snow depth | 0 | 3-18 | 18-45 | 40-80 | 80-100 | 90-105 | 90-50 | 50-10 | 10-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Snow Report Links on the Ski Page
January, February, March and the beginning of April are the best ski months.
1 year in 10 will have snow at Thanksgiving.
The end of December and end of April will have decent skiing 60% of the time.
Smaller areas close at the beginnig of April, larger areas stay open till May. See ski page.
1 year in 10 will have decent snow in May.
Soda Springs Snow Depth
Source: Western Regional Climate Center - Desert Research Institute
Historical data from Informative Ski Reports and Other Ski Links by Tony Crocker
Tahoe National Forest Snow Report
California Snowpack Conditions (History of Snow Surveying) at the Dept. of Water Resources (cdec.water.ca.gov)
Historical Climate Information at the Western Regional Climate Center part of the Desert Research Institute (DRI) (www.wrcc.dri.edu/rcc.html)
Donner Summit:
| Mon | Average
Av. '61-'98 | Snow Depth (in)
(Begining of month) |
| Soda Springs | Castle Creek | Donner Summit |
|---|
| Snowfall | Depth | 2005-6 | 2006-7 | 2005-6 | 2006-7 |
| Nov | 52 | 9 | | | | |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | | | | |
| Jan | 104 | 61 | 50 | 42 | | |
| Feb | 57 | 89 | 96 | 38 | 56 | 26 |
| Mar | 77 | 95 | 106 | 131 | 46 | 82 |
| Apr | 51 | 79 | 142 | 60 | 109 | 42 |
| May | 13 | 26 | 142 | 48 | 108 | 19 |
| Jun | 0.7 | 3 | | 3.6 | | |
Note: 2005-06 had an unusally heavy late (March) showfall
NOAA/NWS Cooperative Observer Network Stations
| COUNTY | COOP STN NAME | COOP
St ID | Div | NWS | LAT | LONG | ELEV |
| El Dorado | Blodgett Exp Forest | 40883 | 2 | BLEC1 | 38 54 43 | -120 39 53 | 4414 |
| El Dorado | Echo Summit Sierra Ski | 42671 | 3 | | 38 47 | -120 02 | 7350 |
| El Dorado | Georgetown 4 ENE | 43385 | N | | 38 55 00 | -120 46 00 | 3251 |
| El Dorado | Georgetown R S | 43384 | 2 | GEOC1 | 38 55 59 | -120 48 03 | 3001 |
| El Dorado | Kelsey 1 N | 44484 | 2 | Klsc1 | 38 48 32 | -120 49 15 | 2000 |
| El Dorado | Myers Inspection Stn | 45572 | 3 | xx | 38 51 | -120 01 | 6350 |
| El Dorado | Pacific House | 46597 | 2 | Pchc1 | 38 45 29 | -120 30 12 | 3440 |
| El Dorado | Placerville | 46960 | 2 | Plcc1 | 38 41 43 | -120 49 26 | 1850 |
| El Dorado | Placerville Disp Plant | 46964 | 2 | Pldc1 | 38 43 52 | -120 50 46 | 1560 |
| El Dorado | Robbs Peak P H | 47489 | 2 | Polc1 | 38 54 07 | -120 22 36 | 5120 |
| El Dorado | Tahoe Valley Faa Ap | 48762 | 3 | TVL KTVL | 38 54 00 | -120 00 00 | 6254 |
| Nevada | Boca | 40931 | 3 | Bocc1 | 39 23 00 | -120 06 00 | 5575 |
| Nevada | Bowman Dam | 41018 | 2 | Bodc1 | 39 27 00 | -120 39 00 | 5383 |
| Nevada | Donner Memorial St Pk | 42467 | 3 | Donc1 | 39 19 00 | -120 14 00 | 5937 |
| Nevada | Farad | 42972 | 3 | Farc1 | 39 26 00 | -120 02 00 | 5153 |
| Nevada | Grass Valley No 2 | 43573 | 2 | Grac1 | 39 12 15 | -121 04 05 | 2400 |
| Nevada | Harry Englebright Dam | 43800 | 2 | Hlec1 | 39 14 14 | -121 16 00 | 800 |
| Nevada | Lake Spaulding | 44713 | 2 | Lspc1 | 39 19 00 | -120 38 00 | 5155 |
| Nevada | Nevada City | 46136 | 2 | Nvdc1 | 39 14 53 | -121 00 06 | 2781 |
| Nevada | Sagehen Creek | 47641 | 3 | Sghc1 | 39 26 00 | -120 14 00 | 6337 |
| Nevada | Snow Laboratory Central | 48320 | 2 | CSSL | 39 20 | -120 22 | 6910 |
| Nevada | Soda Springs 1 E | 48332 | 2 | SODC1 | 39 19 00 | -120 22 00 | 6883 |
| Nevada | Truckee Rs | 49043 | 3 | Tkec1 | 39 20 00 | -120 11 00 | 6020 |
| Placer | Alpine Meadows | 40140 | 3 | APMC1 | 39 10 00 | -120 14 00 | 6960 |
| Placer | Auburn | 40383 | 2 | Aubc1 | 38 54 26 | -121 05 02 | 1292 |
| Placer | Blue Canyon | 40897 | 2 | BLU KBLU | 39 17 00 | -120 42 00 | 5280 |
| Placer | Colfax | 41912 | 2 | Cofc1 | 39 07 18 | -120 57 02 | 2400 |
| Placer | Foresthill Ranger Stn | 43134 | 2 | Fstc1 | 39 00 35 | -120 50 42 | 3015 |
| Placer | Gold Run 2 Sw | 43491 | 2 | Glrc1 | 39 09 12 | -120 51 29 | 3320 |
| Placer | Hell Hole | 43891 | 2 | Helc1 | 39 03 30 | -120 24 54 | 4850 |
| Placer | Iowa Hill | 44288 | 2 | Iowc1 | 39 07 05 | -120 50 06 | 3100 |
| Placer | Tahoe City | 48758 | 3 | TAHC1 | 39 10 00 | -120 08 00 | 6230 |
| Placer | Squaw Valley Lodge | 48474 | 3 | xx | 39 12 | -120 14 | 6230 |
| Sierra | Downieville | 42500 | 2 | Dwnc1 | 39 34 00 | -120 50 00 | 2914 |
| Sierra | Sierra City | 48207 | 2 | Siec1 | 39 34 04 | -120 37 22 | 4240 |
| Sierra | Sierraville R S | 48218 | 2 | Serc1 | 39 35 00 | -120 22 00 | 4975 |
| Amador | Fiddletown Dexter Ranch | 43038 | 5 | Fddc1 | 38 31 25 | -120 42 22 | 2160 |
| Amador | Salt Springs Pwr House | 47689 | 5 | Spgc1 | 38 30 02 | -120 13 08 | 3700 |
| Amador | Tiger Creek Ph | 48928 | 5 | Tigc1 | 38 26 46 | -120 29 57 | 2355 |
| Douglas, NV | Stateline-Harrash's | 27806 | x | xx | 38 58 | -119 57 | 6250 |
| Washoe, NV | Mount Rose Highway STN | 26554 | x | xx | 39 20 | -119 53 | 7370 |
Source: www.wrcc.dri.edu/inventory/coop04.html
Precipitation:
Truckee River flow:
TTC - TRUCKEE RIVER AT TAHOE CITY flow
Snowfall Tracking Stations
Stations with Snow Depth or Snowfall information
California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) Station ID
Tahoe: (Map)
BWY - BROCKWAY SUMMIT
DMN - DIAMOND CROSSING
LCR - LOST CORNER MOUNTAIN
RP2 - RUBICON PEAK 2
RP3 - RUBICON PEAK 3
SQ1 - SQUAW VALLEY 1
SQV - SQUAW VALLEY GOLD COAST
TCC - TAHOE CITY CROSS Current
TCT - TAHOE CITY 1910-1977
WC3 - WARD CREEK 3 daily 2004-present
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Donner (Map)
CC5 - CASTLE CREEK 5
CCO - CISCO
CSF - CISCO FLAT
DMS - DONNER MEM ST PARK
DNR - DONNER LAKE (SNOW COURSE)
DNS - DONNER SUMMIT
DP2 - DONNER PARK 2
SDS - SODA SPRINGS
TK2 - TRUCKEE 2
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South Lake Tahoe Snowfall at USAToday
| Month | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep |
| Avg. snowfall (in.) | 3 | 17 | 34 | 44 | 37 | 36 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Avg. snow depth | 0 | 3 | 11 | 21 | 30 | 28 | 14 | 2 | T | 0 | 0 | T |
Average total snow fall at lake level is 14 ft. accumulating to a maximum depth of 2.8 ft.
Ski areas report average snowfall of 34-38 feet.
The 2004-2005 season had more than double the average snowfall.
Kirkwood reported a total of 66 feet.
Greatest Sierra snowstorms (1949-50 through 2004-2005) with storm
total snowfall amounts (in.) At various locations
Can - canyon dam (plumas county)
boc - Boca (nevada county)
css - central Sierra snow lab (nevada-Placer county)
tah - Tahoe City (placer county)
grg - Grant Grove (tulare county)
can boc css tah grg
1. Jan. 10-17, 1952 108.0 68.0 141.0 149.0 68.0
2. Mar. 28-Apr. 1, 1982 26.0 47.0 125.5 59.0 63.0
3. Mar. 29-Apr. 4, 1958 46.5 48.0 mm 98.5 69.0
4. Dec. 28, 1992-Jan. 2, 1993 74.0 47.0 76.6 57.5 mm
5. Mar. 21-24, 1995 32.0 26.0 100.6 74.0 59.0
6. Mar. 10-14, 1967 60.0 59.0 74.8 92.0 38.5
7. Jan. 31-Feb. 4, 1975 62.0 38.0 65.0 42.0 25.0
8. Dec. 27-31, 1964 46.0 42.0 87.2 77.0 26.0
9. Feb. 23-26, 1969 35.0 28.0 74.0 37.0 63.0
10. Jan. 27-30, 1981 24.0 24.0 72.0 40.0 48.0
11. Dec. 21-23, 1996 23.0 65.0 53.6 73.0 25.0
12. Dec. 29, 2004-Jan. 2, 2005 48.0 49.5 89.7 64.0 mm
13. Feb. 9-12, 1959 43.0 31.0 mm 43.0 64.0
14. Feb. 16-18, 1990 30.0 49.0 73.0 46.0 24.0
15. Jan. 20-23, 1997 34.0 18.0 73.4 44.0 35.0
Mm - missing data
Range at CSS 4'-6" (54") to 11'-9" (141")
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Source: Public Information Statement, TUE JAN 01 2008,
from the National Weather Service Reno Weather Forecast Office.
Links:
Warings and Alerts at the Emergency Info. page
Historical data from Informative Ski Reports and Other Ski Links by Tony Crocker
LINKS:
Northern California GCA at the National Weather Service by the U. Utah
Tahoe National Forest Snow Report
Sierra Avalanche Center
Western Region Climate Center at the Desert Research Institute (DRI)
Northern California Map with stations
Averages at the Weather Channel
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