Lake Tahoe in spring by the numbers
- Mar59 F high, 34 F low, 2.9 in snow
- Apr65 F high, 38 F low, 0.4 in snow
- May74 F high, 47 F low, 0.1 in snow
Data (station Reno-Tahoe International Airport): NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020.
Spring in the Tahoe basin arrives late and in stages. Reno's airport sees only 2.9 inches of March snow, but the Truckee station records 32.2 inches. The shift from snow to bare ground is the main fact of a spring move: roads open, driveways clear and then turn muddy, and the second-home season begins.
Snow falls month by month
At Truckee, March averages a 49.6 F high and 21.2 F low, April a 54.8 F high and 25.2 F low, and May a 64.3 F high and 31.4 F low. Snow drops from 32.2 inches to 18.5 inches to 4.1 inches. Tahoe City's normals are 34.7, 14.0 and 2.8 inches over the same three months.
The practical meaning is that a March move at the lake looks like winter, an April move is mixed, and a May move is mostly clear with an occasional storm. Pick your date with that curve in mind.
Melt, mud and driveways
As snow banks retreat, unpaved driveways and side roads can soften. A loaded truck is heavy, so ask your estimator whether the truck can reach the door or whether a shuttle is needed from the street. Describe the grade and surface of the drive honestly when you request the estimate.
Roofs can shed snow suddenly in the warm afternoons. Keep people and cars away from eaves while the crew carries furniture.
Roads, passes and school breaks
- Chain controls can still be posted on Interstate 80 and US 50 in March and April; see Caltrans for the three levels.
- Check Nevada 511 for Nevada roads on the day of the move.
- Spring break at local schools shifts traffic; Tahoe Truckee and Washoe schools publish their own calendars, so check the district for your child's dates.
- Allow extra time for the drive, with the Sparks warehouse about 48 minutes from Truckee and about 83 minutes from South Lake Tahoe under normal conditions.
- Book early for May, when owners open second homes.
Second homes open
Spring is when many owners prepare vacation homes. O'Brien's vault storage (from $40 per month) and the Sparks warehouse hold furniture between seasons; see seasonal and second-home storage.
For town specifics, read movers in Truckee, movers in Tahoe City and movers in South Lake Tahoe.