Lake Tahoe Weather

[DeniseM]

The Lake Tahoe area is our favorite weekend getaway. It's within driving distance, so we are frequent visitors. I always forewarn first time visitors about the unpredictable weather, due to the high altitude.

We drove back from Tahoe today - June 11th, and it was 29 degrees and snowing as we were driving home through the Sierras, and more snow is expected tonight in the region - including Tahoe. Tomorrow, the low in Tahoe is supposed to be 31 and the high 49.

It's always fun to see the first time visitors in shorts, tank tops, and flip flops in the snow - in June.

Lake Tahoe is at 6,225 feet.

Oh - and next weekend - it's supposed to be 81 degrees!

 

[WalnutBaron]

The Lake Tahoe area is our favorite weekend getaway. It's within driving distance, so we are frequent visitors. I always forewarn first time visitors about the unpredictable weather, due to the high altitude.

We drove back from Tahoe today - June 11th, and it was 29 degrees and snowing as we were driving home through the Sierras, and more snow is expected tonight in the region - including Tahoe. Tomorrow, the low in Tahoe is supposed to be 31 and the high 49.

It's always fun to see the first time visitors in shorts, tank tops, and flip flops in the snow - in June.

Lake Tahoe is at 6,225 feet.

A few years ago, we were backpacking in the Sierras at altitude of about 8,000 feet in mid-June when it began to rain. We hunkered down, went to bed (sleeping bags) early, and just before dawn, as I rolled over inside the tent, I was awakened by something solid against my shoulder. I looked out and we'd gotten about 5 inches of snow overnight. We packed up and left, hiking about eight miles through the snow, and frankly a bit concerned because all of the landmarks and trail markers were covered in snow. We made it out by mid-afternoon and after hot showers, collapsed in deep sleep. I woke up 12 hours later. No more backpacking trips in the Sierras in June!

 

[Blues]

I know what you mean, WalnutBaron. We once tried to do the trail from Tenaya Lake, down past Cloud's Rest to the valley. Started on the last weekend of June, heading into 4th of July. We were even game enough to wade through thigh-deep water in the Tenaya Lake parking lot, because Tenaya Lake had overflowed its banks with snowmelt and that's where the trail was supposed to be. But we never made it. That trail starts off uphill, and quickly the snow on the trail went from knee high, to waist high, to chest high. We had to turn back.

 

[DAman]

I know what you mean, WalnutBaron. We once tried to do the trail from Tenaya Lake, down past Cloud's Rest to the valley. Started on the last weekend of June, heading into 4th of July. We were even game enough to wade through thigh-deep water in the Tenaya Lake parking lot, because Tenaya Lake had overflowed its banks with snowmelt and that's where the trail was supposed to be. But we never made it. That trail starts off uphill, and quickly the snow on the trail went from knee high, to waist high, to chest high. We had to turn back.

I did that exact hike twenty years ago as a day hike. Thanks for reminding me. It was twenty plus miles one way. DW dropped us at Tenaya Lake and picked us up in the valley. The post hike beer never tasted so good. Luckily weather was perfect that day.

 

[WalnutBaron]

I know what you mean, WalnutBaron. We once tried to do the trail from Tenaya Lake, down past Cloud's Rest to the valley. Started on the last weekend of June, heading into 4th of July. We were even game enough to wade through thigh-deep water in the Tenaya Lake parking lot, because Tenaya Lake had overflowed its banks with snowmelt and that's where the trail was supposed to be. But we never made it. That trail starts off uphill, and quickly the snow on the trail went from knee high, to waist high, to chest high. We had to turn back.

Wow! Chest high! Makes my story of a puny 5" sound pretty tame. It's a bad feeling, though, when you can't see the trailmarkers. That trip was done before GPS existed, so it was an unforgettable adventure.