Today

Conditions change faster than any guide. So this page does not report them. It points to the agencies and resorts that do, grouped by what you are trying to find out.

Links checked Oct 1, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Roads and chain controls

Highway closures, chain controls and cameras for US 50, SR 89 and SR 88, plus the Nevada side.

Caltrans QuickMapquickmap.dot.ca.gov Live map of California highway conditions, lane closures and traffic cameras. Caltrans
California highway conditions by routeroads.dot.ca.gov Type a highway number (50, 89, 88) for the current status. Caltrans. Phone 1-800-427-7623
Nevada 511nvroads.com Traffic, incidents, construction, cameras and road conditions on the Nevada side, including Stateline and Kingsbury. Nevada Department of Transportation. Phone 511

What the chain control signs mean

R-1: Chains, traction devices or snow tires are required on the drive axle of all vehicles except four wheel or all wheel drive vehicles.
R-2: Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel / all wheel drive vehicles with snow treaded tires on all wheels.
R-3: Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

Source: Caltrans, Chain Control Status Chart

Weather

Forecasts from the National Weather Service office in Reno, which covers Lake Tahoe.

Forecast for South Lake Tahoeforecast.weather.gov Seven-day point forecast for South Lake Tahoe, with hourly and discussion links. National Weather Service, Reno
NWS Reno officeweather.gov Winter weather hazards, snow and avalanche links, and Lake Tahoe wind and wave forecasts. National Weather Service

Air quality and smoke

The AQI number tells you more than the view does. Planned burns are mapped too.

AirNow: South Lake Tahoeairnow.gov Current and forecast Air Quality Index for South Lake Tahoe. U.S. EPA
Fire and Smoke Mapfire.airnow.gov Fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from wildfires and other sources, on a map. U.S. EPA and U.S. Forest Service
Prescribed fire project maptahoelivingwithfire.com Planned and active prescribed burns and fuels projects around the basin. Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team

Snow reports

Each resort posts its own report. Backcountry users have a separate forecast.

Heavenly snow and weatherskiheavenly.com The resort's snow report and forecast. Heavenly also sends updates by text: text "Updates" to 530-302-2751. Heavenly Mountain Resort
Kirkwood snow and weatherkirkwood.com The resort's snow report and forecast. Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Sierra-at-Tahoe weather and snowsierraattahoe.com Conditions, a five-day forecast, webcams and road reports. Sierra-at-Tahoe
Sierra Avalanche Centersierraavalanchecenter.org Backcountry avalanche, snow and weather information for the greater Lake Tahoe area. Sierra Avalanche Center, with the U.S. Forest Service

Buses and Lake Link

Detours, stop closures and on-demand rides.

TTD service alertstahoetransportation.org Detours and temporary stop closures for Routes 50, 55 and the rest of the TTD system. Tahoe Transportation District
Lake Linkss-tma.org Free on-demand rides in shared vans. Book in the Lake Link app or by phone. South Shore Transportation Management Association. Phone 530-800-4438

Public lands and the City

Closures, fire rules and notices from the agencies that run the beaches, trails and parks.

Forest Service alertsfs.usda.gov Forest orders, closures, campfire rules and fire danger for national forest land around the lake. Recorded fire information line: 530-543-2816. USDA Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Emerald Bay State Park updatesparks.ca.gov Campground, trail and Vikingsholm status for Emerald Bay. California State Parks
City of South Lake Tahoe newscityofslt.gov City notices, park and beach closures, and meeting schedules. City of South Lake Tahoe

The next seven days

Full calendar