Tahoe City has two clearly defined seasons separated by mud and rain.
Winter (December to April) is ski season. The Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows resorts are at their best from mid-January through March, when the deep storms come in off the Pacific. The town is busy on weekends and during the Christmas-to-New-Year holiday — book accommodation months ahead — and quieter in early December and late March. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Burton Creek are excellent.
Summer (late June to early September) is the lake season. The water is clear and cold, the long days are warm but not hot at 1,900 metres elevation, and every other weekend has a local festival. The 4th of July and Labor Day are the peak crowds.
Shoulder seasons (May, October, November) are the quietest, often the most beautiful, and the cheapest. Many businesses run reduced hours in November and early December. The road over Donner Pass can close suddenly in any month from October to May after a Pacific storm — check Caltrans before driving.