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The best months to get married in South Lake Tahoe are June through September, based on 30 years of weather records. In August, an average afternoon reaches 80°F, the average night drops to 41°F, and rain of 0.10 inch or more falls on about 0.7 of a day.
The figures come from South Lake Tahoe Airport. The method page explains how the score, rain odds and light times are worked out.
Pick Your Wedding Date In South Lake Tahoe
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Best Months To Get Married In South Lake Tahoe
Weakest for an outdoor ceremony: February and December. Average highs run from 43°F in January to 80°F in July.
South Lake Tahoe sits at about 6,300 feet. Summer evenings are cool even after a warm day, so bring wraps for guests. Winter weddings should plan for snow.
What Altitude Does To A Wedding Plan
South Lake Tahoe sits at about 6,300 feet, and it behaves like a mountain town more than a California one. July and August average 80°F by day but only 43°F and 41°F at night, a drop of 37 to 39 degrees after sunset.
The wedding season is short and clear: June (96), July (95), August (97) and September (97), with October (89) a good shoulder month at a 62°F high. May scores 86, but it's the same 62°F high with 3.7 rainy days.
From December to March, much of the precipitation falls as snow. That's a feature for some couples and a travel problem for guests, and the scores for those months run only 42 to 52.
Late-summer wildfire smoke has affected the basin in some years, with the 2021 Caldor Fire the best-known example, so build in an indoor option for August and September.
The sun is stronger at altitude and the lake stays cold, so sunscreen and layers both belong in the guest note.
How South Lake Tahoe Compares With The Rest Of California
It sees about 1 days a year at or above 90°F, the 2nd fewest of the 15 places. It gets about 40 days a year with 0.10 inch of rain or more, the 3rd most of the 15 places. The state median is 8 months scoring 80 or higher, and South Lake Tahoe is below it, so the date matters more.
| Place | Best month | Top score | Months 80+ | Rain days a year | Days 90°F+ a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Lake Tahoe | August | 97 | 6 | 40 | 1 |
| Sacramento | October | 89 | 4 | 36 | 84 |
| Fresno | November | 90 | 4 | 26 | 113 |
| San Jose | May | 95 | 8 | 30 | 16 |
| San Francisco | July | 99 | 8 | 39 | 4 |
South Lake Tahoe Wedding Weather By Month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain days | Days 90°F+ | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43°F | 18°F | 5 | 0 | 46 |
| February | 43°F | 19°F | 5.8 | 0 | 42 |
| March | 48°F | 24°F | 5.8 | 0 | 52 |
| April | 53°F | 28°F | 3.8 | 0 | 69 |
| May | 62°F | 33°F | 3.7 | 0 | 86 |
| June | 72°F | 38°F | 0.9 | 0.1 | 96 |
| July | 80°F | 43°F | 0.9 | 0.7 | 95 |
| August | 80°F | 41°F | 0.7 | 0.3 | 97 |
| September | 73°F | 35°F | 0.7 | 0.1 | 97 |
| October | 62°F | 29°F | 2.8 | 0 | 89 |
| November | 51°F | 23°F | 4.4 | 0 | 62 |
| December | 43°F | 18°F | 5.9 | 0 | 43 |
The Odds Of Rain On Your Wedding Day In South Lake Tahoe
On an average August day in South Lake Tahoe, there is about a 5% chance of any measurable rain and about a 2% chance of rain heavy enough to spoil an outdoor ceremony.
| Month | Any measurable rain | 0.10 inch or more | Monthly rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28% of days | 16% of days | 2.81 in |
| February | 31% of days | 21% of days | 3.75 in |
| March | 32% of days | 19% of days | 2.87 in |
| April | 28% of days | 13% of days | 1.27 in |
| May | 24% of days | 12% of days | 1.32 in |
| June | 8% of days | 3% of days | 0.55 in |
| July | 7% of days | 3% of days | 0.39 in |
| August | 5% of days | 2% of days | 0.36 in |
| September | 8% of days | 2% of days | 0.28 in |
| October | 17% of days | 9% of days | 1.43 in |
| November | 25% of days | 15% of days | 1.94 in |
| December | 35% of days | 19% of days | 3.49 in |
Sunset And Golden Hour In South Lake Tahoe
| Month | Sunrise | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Daylight | Ceremony start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:17 AM | 4:22 PM | 5:02 PM | 9.8 hrs | 3:45 PM |
| February | 6:50 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:38 PM | 10.8 hrs | 4:30 PM |
| March | 7:10 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:07 PM | 12 hrs | 6:00 PM |
| April | 6:22 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:37 PM | 13.2 hrs | 6:30 PM |
| May | 5:47 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:06 PM | 14.3 hrs | 7:00 PM |
| June | 5:34 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:27 PM | 14.9 hrs | 7:15 PM |
| July | 5:47 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:24 PM | 14.6 hrs | 7:15 PM |
| August | 6:14 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:55 PM | 13.7 hrs | 6:45 PM |
| September | 6:42 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:08 PM | 12.4 hrs | 6:00 PM |
| October | 7:10 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:21 PM | 11.2 hrs | 5:15 PM |
| November | 6:44 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:46 PM | 10 hrs | 3:30 PM |
| December | 7:12 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:39 PM | 9.5 hrs | 3:30 PM |
Daylight runs from 9.5 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June.
More places: California wedding weather, the hub and special wedding dates.
South Lake Tahoe Wedding Weather Questions
What is the best month to get married in South Lake Tahoe?
August, at a score of 97, with June, July, and September close behind. South Lake Tahoe has 6 months scoring 80 or higher, against a California median of 8.
When does it rain most in South Lake Tahoe?
December has the most days with 0.10 inch of rain or more, at 5.9. Over a year that is about 40 days, the 3rd wettest of the 15 places.
How hot does it get for a South Lake Tahoe wedding?
July is warmest, with an average high of 80°F. Across a year South Lake Tahoe sees about 1 days at or above 90°F, the 2nd coolest of the 15 places.
Can you get married at Lake Tahoe in winter?
Yes, and some couples want the snow. January averages 43°F by day and 18°F at night, and the score is 46, so plan for cold, travel delays and indoor space for guests.
How cold are summer nights at Lake Tahoe?
Cool enough for a jacket. In July the average low is 43°F even though the average high is 80°F.