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Typical December weather

South Lake Tahoe

California · December

Winter proper — carry chains whether or not you need them.

43° days
18° nights

about 11 rainy or snowy days · 9½ hours of daylight

What to pack

What December feels like

December is when the storms line up and the Sierra does what it is famous for. The week between Christmas and New Year's is the busiest of the year; if a system lands on it, the highway over the pass becomes the story of your trip.

Expect about 11 days with something falling — rain, snow, or the sloppy mix in between. Nearly every night dips below freezing.

The numbers

Typical high43°
Typical low18°
Days with rain or snow11
Rain or melted snow3.5 in
Sunrise / sunset (mid-month)7:11 am / 4:38 pm

How December compares

See the whole year in South Lake Tahoe ›