Is it safe to swim in Lake Tahoe in the winter?

Always go with a friend. While it's always safest to swim with a friend, in the winter it's even more imperative. With cold water temperatures and the limited amount of time you can spend outside in a bathing suit before freezing, having someone there just in case is a good safety measure.



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With it being one of the deepest and biggest alpine lakes in the United States, it never freezes in the winter. On the flip-side, it doesn't warm quickly like other lakes either. The surface water ranges from 40 degrees in winter to about 70 in summer. With that being said, July on average has the warmest waters.

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The surface water ranges from 40 degrees in winter to about 70 in summer. With that being said, July on average has the warmest waters. This is followed by August and September where they fluctuate between 65-70 degrees.

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Tahoe peaks at around 70 degrees in the summer, hardly a tropical affair. “It's a little colder, too cold for a lot of people unless you're wearing a wetsuit,” says Amy Hagen, co-owner of Reno's Adventure Scuba, where snorkelers often shop for gear. “You really need a wetsuit.”

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The water is 99.994% pure, making it one of the purest large lakes in the world. For comparison, commercially distilled water is 99.998% pure. Tahoe contains roughly 60 parts per million of dissolved matter.

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Almost daily, strong winds travel down the western mountain slopes and funnel through steep canyons. The result is strong blasts of wind that appear on the surface of the lake like a dark blue line.

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The water temperature at Lake Tahoe is currently 67 degrees, which is considered cold water. Cold water can quickly lead to cold water shock, swim failure, and hypothermia, which can be deadly. “We have already responded to several water rescues this summer,” said NLTFPD Fire Chief Ryan Sommers.

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While we tend to think of some sports as summer-only, like swimming, bike riding, and even running, in reality, these activities can be enjoyed year-round with some nice weather and good preparation.

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Kings Beach This sandy beach is perhaps the most prominent site on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The wide stretch of yellow sand makes Kings Beach a favorite of visitors and residents alike. Because it's facing south, they say this is the warmest swimming area on the lake.

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Kings Beach This sandy beach is perhaps the most prominent site on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The wide stretch of yellow sand makes Kings Beach a favorite of visitors and residents alike. Because it's facing south, they say this is the warmest swimming area on the lake.

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Lake Tahoe's clear water is due to tiny creatures called Zooplankton, researchers say. There's something in the water at Lake Tahoe. The freshwater lake between California and Nevada is the clearest it's been in decades, and researchers say that could be thanks to some tiny organisms called zooplankton.

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