When is the last frost in South Lake Tahoe, CA?

Frost is possible in any month at the nearest NOAA station (South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA), so there is no reliable average last frost date.

When is the first frost in South Lake Tahoe, CA?

Frost is possible in any month at the nearest NOAA station.

Are these frost dates a forecast?

No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.

Frost dates for 96158South Lake Tahoe, CA

Frost is possible in any month near South Lake Tahoe, based on NOAA 1991-2020 records for the South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA station.

Frost is possible in any month. Even summer nights can drop to freezing at this station, so protect tender plants whenever cold nights are forecast.

Frost risk by date

NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.

Spring dates: chance of a frost AFTER the date. Fall dates: chance of a frost BEFORE the date.
Temperature	Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance	First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance	Growing season (50%)	Years with at least one
Light frost (36°F)	—	—	27 days	100%
Frost / freeze (32°F)	—	—	63 days	100%
Hard freeze (28°F)	May 5 · May 28 · Jun 18	Aug 31 · Sep 20 · Oct 9	113 days	100%

Where these dates come from

ZIP code 96158 is matched to the NOAA station South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA, 0.3 km away, at 6,314 ft elevation (18 ft higher than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:

Station	Elevation	Avg last frost	Avg first frost
South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA (used)	6,314 ft	—	—
Dagget Pass, NV	7,334 ft	Jun 7	Sep 28
Minden, NV	4,709 ft	May 30	Sep 26
Glenbrook, NV	6,350 ft	Jun 5	Oct 9

Frost dates near South Lake Tahoe

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151 · last —, first —
Echo Lake, CA 95721 · last Jun 7, first Sep 28
Stateline, NV 89449 · last Jun 7, first Sep 28
Twin Bridges, CA 95735 · last —, first —
Zephyr Cove, NV 89448 · last Jun 7, first Sep 28
Glenbrook, NV 89413 · last Jun 5, first Oct 9
Markleeville, CA 96120 · last —, first —
Genoa, NV 89411 · last May 30, first Sep 26

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in South Lake Tahoe, CA?: Frost is possible in any month at the nearest NOAA station (South Lake Tahoe Ap, CA), so there is no reliable average last frost date.
When is the first frost in South Lake Tahoe, CA?: Frost is possible in any month at the nearest NOAA station.
Are these frost dates a forecast?: No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.