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Best Time for California: Sacramento, Gold Country & Lake Tahoe
Last updated:
Preferred months for this journey: June, July, August, September. Check the seasonal notes before choosing your dates.
💡 Good to know
- Tahoe's water clears to 20-metre visibility for kayaks and Emerald Bay's boat-in beaches — the 116-kilometre lake loop drives best before ski traffic returns.
- The Sierra's snow machine buries a dozen resorts around the lake — chains in the car, powder in the forecast, Donner Party history suddenly vivid.
| Month | Low | High | Rain | Daylight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | −1.4°C | 7.5°C | 99 mm | 9.5 h | ❄ |
| February | −0.8°C | 8.7°C | 104 mm | 10.5 h | ❄ |
| March | 1.0°C | 11.7°C | 98 mm | 11.7 h | ❄ |
| April | 2.9°C | 15.0°C | 55 mm | 13.0 h | ❄ |
| May | 6.8°C | 20.6°C | 33 mm | 14.1 h | |
| June | 10.8°C | 27.1°C | 10 mm | 14.7 h | |
| July | 14.7°C | 32.1°C | 4 mm | 14.5 h | |
| August | 14.0°C | 31.1°C | 4 mm | 13.5 h | |
| September | 11.3°C | 27.2°C | 7 mm | 12.2 h | |
| October | 6.4°C | 20.2°C | 38 mm | 10.9 h | |
| November | 1.7°C | 12.6°C | 70 mm | 9.8 h | ❄ |
| December | −1.6°C | 7.1°C | 132 mm | 9.2 h | ❄ |