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Lake Tahoe is a massive freshwater alpine lake nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains along the California-Nevada border. Known worldwide for its crystal-clear cobalt blue waters, it reaches a depth of 1,644 feet and offers premier year-round fishing for trophy lake trout (Mackinaw), rainbow trout, and Kokanee salmon.
Updated
Alerts are published by official agencies and shown verbatim. View the official alert source.
Lake Wind Advisory issued October 8 at 11:45AM PDT until October 10 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Reno NV
Overall Poor (46/100) across 5 activities. Best right now: Fishing (82/100).
How the score is calculated →Best good fishing window, averaging 88/100 across these hours. Measured water temperature 59°F from a representative gauge 11.2 mi away. Provisional data. Wind 0 mph from the south. Derived from the hourly forecast; official alerts are not forecast and are checked separately.
| Metric | 6a | 7a | 8a | 9a | 10a | 11a | 12p | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p | 7p | 8p | 9p | 10p | 11p | 12a | 1a | 2a | 3a | 4a | 5a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 60° | 57° | 57° | 57° | 56° | 56° | 55° | 54° | 54° | 55° | 58° | 61° | 63° | 64° | 66° | 67° | 67° | 68° | 67° | 66° | 64° | 61° | 60° | 58° |
| Wind (kts) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Direction | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | SW | SW | SW |
| Gusts (kts) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Precip % | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Time | Temp | Wind | Gusts | Precip | Cloud | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 11 PM PDT | 60°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 9% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 12 AM PDT | 57°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 9% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 1 AM PDT | 57°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 9% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 2 AM PDT | 57°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 23% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 3 AM PDT | 56°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 23% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 4 AM PDT | 56°F | Calm | 4 mph | 0% | 23% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 5 AM PDT | 55°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 19% | Mostly Clear |
| Fri, 6 AM PDT | 54°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 19% | Sunny |
| Fri, 7 AM PDT | 54°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 19% | Sunny |
| Fri, 8 AM PDT | 55°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 11% | Sunny |
| Fri, 9 AM PDT | 58°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 11% | Sunny |
| Fri, 10 AM PDT | 61°F | Calm | 5 mph | 0% | 11% | Sunny |
| Fri, 11 AM PDT | 63°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 15 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 12 PM PDT | 64°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 15 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 1 PM PDT | 66°F | 5 mph W (270°) | 15 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 2 PM PDT | 67°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 3 PM PDT | 67°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 4 PM PDT | 68°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 17 mph | 0% | 4% | Sunny |
| Fri, 5 PM PDT | 67°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 20 mph | 0% | 1% | Sunny |
| Fri, 6 PM PDT | 66°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 20 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Fri, 7 PM PDT | 64°F | 10 mph W (270°) | 20 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Fri, 8 PM PDT | 61°F | 10 mph SW (225°) | 15 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Fri, 9 PM PDT | 60°F | 10 mph SW (225°) | 15 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Fri, 10 PM PDT | 58°F | 10 mph SW (225°) | 15 mph | 0% | 1% | Clear |
| Fri, 11 PM PDT | 57°F | 15 mph SW (225°) | 22 mph | 0% | 6% | Mostly Clear |
Official National Weather Service hourly forecast. Showing 10 of 25 hours. Wind arrows point the way the wind is blowing; the compass point and degrees show where it comes from.
| Period | Overnight October 8, 2026 | Thursday October 8, 2026 | Today October 8, 2026 | This Afternoon October 8, 2026 | Tonight October 8, 2026 | Tonight October 8, 2026 | Tonight October 8, 2026 | Friday October 9, 2026 | Friday Night October 9, 2026 | Saturday October 10, 2026 | Saturday Night October 10, 2026 | Sunday October 11, 2026 | Sunday Night October 11, 2026 | Columbus Day October 12, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°F) | 54° | 71° | 71° | 71° | 54° | 54° | 54° | 69° | 49° | 61° | 43° | 49° | 36° | 44° |
| Wind | 0 mph | 0 mph | 0 mph | 0 mph | 0 mph | 0 mph | 0 mph | W 0 to 10 mph | SW 10 to 15 mph | SW 15 to 20 mph | SW 5 to 20 mph | SW 0 to 5 mph | N 0 to 10 mph | N 0 to 5 mph |
| Gusts | 1 mph | 6 mph | 6 mph | 7 mph | 5 mph | 5 mph | 5 mph | 20 mph | 30 mph | 35 mph | 35 mph | 12 mph | 12 mph | 9 mph |
| Precip % | 0% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 1% | 30% | 76% | 76% | 59% |
| Forecast |
UPPER TRUCKEE RV AT SOUTH LAKE TAHOE CA · Oct 9, 1:45 AM UTC
Good for fishing (82/100), from 6 available inputs. Supporting this: Measured water temperature 59°F from a representative gauge 11.2 mi away. Provisional data. Wind 0 mph from the west-southwest. Not available from a verified source for this lake: pressure trend. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Very Poor / Avoid for boating (30/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the west-southwest. Gusts to 7 mph. Working against it: Active moderate alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Lake Wind Advisory is in effect for this lake. Boating scores are capped at 30. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility and conditions. Confidence is moderate (84%) because some inputs are unavailable or older than ideal.
Very Poor / Avoid for sailing (30/100), from 4 available inputs. Supporting this: Gusts exceed sustained wind by 7 mph, making the breeze puffy. 0% chance of precipitation. Working against it: Wind 0 mph is light; expect limited sailing. Active moderate alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Lake Wind Advisory is in effect for this lake. Sailing scores are capped at 30. Not available from a verified source for this lake: visibility. Confidence is high (88%).
Very Poor / Avoid for kayaking (30/100), from 5 available inputs. Supporting this: Wind 0 mph from the west-southwest. Gusts to 7 mph. Working against it: Active moderate alert: Lake Wind Advisory. Lake Wind Advisory is in effect for this lake. Kayaking scores are capped at 30. Confidence is high (90%).
Surface water measured at 59°F. Cold shock reflex presents an immediate drowning risk.
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In CA & NV, Lake Tahoe stands out as a versatile freshwater lake valued for its fishing waters, boating access, and scenic shoreline. Whether embarking on early morning fishing runs or enjoying midday water recreation, visitors find varied opportunities across the basin. Public facilities are administered by Tahoe Regional Planning Agency / USFS.
Valid freshwater sport fishing license issued by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is required for anglers age 16+. Digital license on mobile is accepted.
Mandatory Clean, Drain & Dry inspection. Out-of-area craft require on-site Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS Quagga/Zebra) inspection or decontamination before launch. USCG life jackets required for all.
Managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Standard Federal Interagency Passes (America the Beautiful) or regional Forest Service passes apply at developed day-use ramps and trailheads.
High-speed motorboating, pontoon cruising, wakeboarding, and water skiing across main channels. Target gamefish include Mackinaw (Lake Trout), Kokanee Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Morning hours typically provide optimal glassy conditions for kayak and stand-up paddleboard (SUP) touring.
Warm water temperatures, peak swimming, active watersports, and open full-service campgrounds. Highest weekly attendance; plan early arrivals on summer weekends.
Spring pre-spawn and fall feeding transitions create prime trophy angling conditions. Cooler air, lower boat traffic, and vibrant seasonal shoreline foliage.
High-altitude mountain winter climate (elevation 6,225 ft MSL). Freezing temperatures, potential snowpack or ice cover, and reduced seasonal amenities. Winter safety caution advised.
No external source rows are cited by the data currently shown on this page.
Updated
Scores are heuristics, not safety guarantees. LakeRadar scores summarize available conditions and are not a substitute for official warnings, local rules, or on-water judgment.
All telemetry for Lake Tahoe is synchronized directly from authorized federal and state monitoring networks (USGS, NWS, NOAA, and state environmental authorities). Observations are strictly instrumented readings — unmonitored sensors are transparently disclosed rather than synthetic estimates.
Last source audit: Oct 8, 11:01 PM PDT