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Will it freeze in South Lake Tahoe in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in South Lake Tahoe during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 35°F. Frost possible.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM PST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM PST.
1 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 41°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 40°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 38°F Above 36°F · Slight Chance Rain And Snow
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in South Lake Tahoe
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 12, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Dagget Pass. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Jun 5 · Jun 19 · Jul 8 | Aug 29 · Sep 15 · Oct 1 | 87 days |
| 32°F freeze | May 21 · Jun 7 · Jun 24 | Sep 10 · Sep 28 · Oct 16 | 113 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | May 3 · May 25 · Jun 12 | Sep 22 · Oct 12 · Nov 1 | 140 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Dagget Pass
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for South Lake Tahoe, CA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Dagget Pass (station USC00262119, elevation 7,334 ft), 5.9 mi from South Lake Tahoe. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near South Lake Tahoe
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carson City, NV | 20 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Truckee, CA | 31 mi | Jun 9 | Sep 25 |
| Reno, NV | 43 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 27 |
| Placerville, CA | 46 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 21 |
| Sparks, NV | 47 mi | May 1 | Oct 10 |
| Jackson, CA | 58 mi | Mar 4 | Dec 11 |
| Auburn, CA | 59 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 5 |
| Grass Valley, CA | 61 mi | Apr 10 | Nov 13 |
| Fernley, NV | 61 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| Folsom, CA | 65 mi | Jan 12 | Dec 16 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in South Lake Tahoe?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in South Lake Tahoe is around June 7. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after June 24, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after May 21.
When is the first frost in South Lake Tahoe?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around September 28. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 10 and a 90% chance by October 16.
Can it frost in South Lake Tahoe after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after June 19.
What growing zone is South Lake Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 0 to 5°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 89449. See growing zones in California.
More: all California frost dates · California growing zones · frost vs. freeze