No month is perfect, and most people move when a lease ends, a job starts or a house closes. Still, a few facts about Northern Nevada weather and calendars help you choose among your options, and plan around the rest.
What the weather does month by month
NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals for Reno-Tahoe International Airport show a wide range. July is the warmest month, with an average high of 93.9 degrees and 23.9 days at or above 90. August follows at 92.1. January and December are the coldest, with average lows of 26.1 and 25.7 degrees, and more than 25 mornings a month at or below freezing. Snow at the airport averages 5.2 inches in each of December, January and February, and the Sierra receives far more.
April and October fall between the extremes, with average highs of 64.7 and 70.4 degrees and few freezing mornings, which makes loading and unloading comfortable for crews and for stored furniture.
Summer: long days, hot afternoons
Summer gives you daylight and dry roads, and many people move in these months when school is out. The cost is heat, especially for loading in the afternoon, and a busier calendar. Ask for a morning start, keep water on hand and protect pets and plants. Wildfire smoke can arrive in late summer, so keep masks handy if you are working outside.
Winter: shorter days, icy roads
Winter moves are possible, and crews work in cold weather, but snow and ice on driveways and mountain roads add time. If your move crosses the Sierra, check the NV Roads website (nvroads.com) and the California road report, and allow a flexible window. Clear your driveway and steps, and keep a path from the door to the truck dry.
Choosing the day and the month
- Mid-month and mid-week dates may be easier to schedule than month-end weekends, when many leases turn over.
- Book earlier for summer and for the last days of a month.
- Leave a cushion between a closing and moving day.
- If dates do not line up, storage between moves bridges the gap.
- For a long-distance move, remember the delivery spread (see delivery spread).
Planning backward from your date
Whatever month you pick, start planning early. The how far ahead to book guide and the moving timeline show the steps to work back from your date. Season-by-season details for Reno live on the weather and climate page.