KTVL/TVL METAR & TAF Lake Tahoe Airport

South Lake Tahoe, CaliforniaElevation 6,264 ftMedium airport
CURRENT STATUS
VFR54 min old
No ceiling, visibility 10 SM.
FLIGHT CATEGORY
VFR
ceiling & visibility
WIND
200@3
steady
VISIBILITY
10 SM
16.1 km
CEILING
None
no BKN/OVC layer
DENSITY ALT
5,329 ft
-935 ft vs field
CURRENT METAR

Decoded observation

Observed 0853Z (1:53 AM local) · 54 min old

KTVL is currently VFR. Winds are from the south at 3 knots. Visibility is 10 statute miles. There is no ceiling.

WIND
200° at 3 kt
Steady.
VISIBILITY
10 statute miles
16.1 km, good.
CEILING & SKY
CLR
FEW and SCT layers are not ceilings.
TEMP / DEWPOINT
-3°C / -4°C
27°F / 25°F. 1°C spread.
ALTIMETER
30.19 inHg
1022.4 hPa, above standard.
WEATHER & HAZARDS
No significant hazards
No precipitation or obscuration reported.

Codes in this report: AUTO CLR RMK AO2

Hover or tap any group for a plain-English explanation.

REMARKS: DECODED
AO2
automated station with a precipitation discriminator (can tell rain from snow)
SLP211
sea-level pressure 1021.1 hPa
T10281039
precise temperature -2.8°C, dew point -3.9°C
58004
3-hour pressure tendency: falling quickly (0.4 hPa change)
TERMINAL AERODROME FORECAST

TAF timeline

Issued 0520Z (10:20 PM local) · valid to 0600Z (11:00 PM local)

KTVL forecast starts VFR at 06Z. Conditions are roughly steady over the period.

VFR
VFR
BKN18018,000 ft
0600Z11:00 PM1048Z3:48 AM1536Z8:36 AM2024Z1:24 PM0112Z6:12 PM0600Z11:00 PM

Codes in this report: P6SM SKC SCT BKN

Tap any group to decode it.

FAA: no delays reported at TVL.

Source: FAA System Operations (ASWS). Operational status only; verify with official FAA sources and NOTAMs.

SUGGESTED RISK · TRAINING USE

Suggested risk level: Low

›No significant weather concerns in the current report.

A suggested risk level for training and situational awareness only, not a go/no-go authority. Verify with official sources and apply your personal minimums.

FORECAST & PILOT NOTES · SUPPLEMENTAL

Extended forecast and pilot notes

Current aviation conditions show flight category VFR, wind from 200° at 3 kt, visibility 10 SM, ceiling none. Forecast suggests sunday mostly sunny, high near 62F, low near 27F, 4% chance of precipitation. Key risks: high density altitude; strong winds in the forecast.

PILOT WEATHER NOTES
High density altitudeMETAR
Density altitude about 5,329 ft (field elevation 6,264 ft). Expect reduced climb performance and a longer takeoff roll.
Strong winds in the forecastWeather.gov
Monday: winds up to 35 kt. Re-check crosswind components closer to departure.
DayConditionsTemp FWindGustsPrecipPilot note
Sunday Mostly Sunny 62/27 SW 9 kt – 4%
Monday Sunny 56/22 SW 17 kt 35 kt 1% Strong winds in the forecast
Tuesday Sunny 60/25 SW 9 kt – 2%
Wednesday Mostly Sunny 59/26 SW 9 kt – 7%
Thursday Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain 54/23 SW 9 kt – 34%
Friday Chance Light Snow 48/19 SW 4 kt – 46%
Saturday Chance Light Snow 44 SW 4 kt – 42%

Source: National Weather Service (office REV). Forecast issued 0946Z.

Radar

Radar data: NOAA/NWS MRMS composite reflectivity. For situational awareness only, not a substitute for an official weather briefing.

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RUNWAYS & WIND
1 runway · crosswind ranking
ON-FIELD METAR
NESW1836 200°200°3 kt200°200° 3200°
READING THE BARB · SWIPE FOR MORE →
Calm
5 kt
10 kt
15 kt
20 kt
25 kt
30 kt
35 kt
40 kt
45 kt
50 kt
65 kt
75 kt
100 kt
105 kt
Half feather = 5 kt, full = 10 kt, filled pennant = 50 kt; add them up. The staff points the direction the wind blows from.
WIND USED
200° at 3 kt
Components computed from the current on-field METAR wind.
RECOMMENDED
RWY 183 kt headwind · no crosswind
RUNWAYS BY WIND · best end
18
HEAD
3 kt
CROSS
calm
BEST
36
HEAD
3 kt tail
CROSS
calm
OK
Components are estimates from the current METAR wind and runway heading. Verify with the Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.
RUNWAYS

Runway detail & declared distances

1 runway · longest 8,541 ft

18/36
Dimensions
8,541 x 100 ft
Surface
Asphalt (excellent)
Edge lights
MED
RWY 18193°T
Landing length (LDA)7,017 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA8,541 / 8,541 / 7,817 ft
Displaced threshold800 ft
ILSLDA/DME
Approach lightsMALSF
VGSIPAPI (P4L)
Traffic patternLeft
RWY 3613°T
Landing length (LDA)5,708 ft
TORA / TODA / ASDA8,541 / 8,541 / 7,741 ft
Displaced threshold2,033 ft
REILYes
Traffic patternRight

Runway data from the FAA NASR dataset (effective 2026-06-11). Verify with the current Chart Supplement and NOTAMs.

FIELD CONDITIONS

Performance & density altitude

Density altitude
5,329 ft
Pressure altitude
5,994 ft
Field elevation
6,264 ft MSL
Temperature
-3°C (27°F)
Dewpoint
-4°C (25°F)
Altimeter
30.19 inHg

Density altitude estimates how the aircraft performs versus standard atmosphere. Higher density altitude reduces climb performance and increases takeoff distance.

DAYLIGHT & NIGHT

Sun & logging windows

Sunset
0109Z 6:09 PM
Sunrise
1419Z 7:19 AM
Loggable night
0136Z (6:36 PM local) → 1352Z (6:52 AM local)
end of evening to start of morning civil twilight
Position lights required
0109Z (6:09 PM local) → 1419Z (7:19 AM local)
sunset to sunrise (91.209)
Night passenger currency
0209Z (7:09 PM local) → 1319Z (6:19 AM local)
1 hr after sunset to 1 hr before sunrise (61.57(b))

FAA definitions, shown in Zulu with airport-local time. Verify for your operation.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

Facility & services

Lake Tahoe Airport is in South Lake Tahoe, California. Field elevation 6,264 ft MSL. Airport facts are drawn from OurAirports and the FAA NASR dataset.

OPERATIONS & CONTACT
OwnershipPublicly owned
UseOpen to the public
TypeMedium airport
ManagerJOHN DICKINSON
Manager phone530-542-6182
AttendedALL/ /0700-1600
CHARTS & AIRSPACE
ICAO / IATAKTVL / TVL
SectionalSAN FRANCISCO
Center (ARTCC)OAKLAND
Flight service (AFSS)RENO
RegionCalifornia
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38.8939, -119.9950
Distance from city3 NM SW
SERVICES & LIGHTING
Fuel100LL · Jet A
Control towerNon-towered
Field lightingSee remarks
BeaconSunset to sunrise · White-green (lighted land airport)
CTAF122.850
FREQUENCIES

Communications

124.725
ASOS
ASOS
127.95
OAKLAND CNTR
CNTR
122.85
CTAF
CTAF
122.25
RENO RDO
RDO
122.85
UNICOM
UNIC

Not all tower/ground/approach frequencies are in our datasets. Verify with the FAA Chart Supplement.

AIRCRAFT ACTIVITY

KTVL traffic patterns

2026-06-13 to 2026-10-16, 32 days observed · data 2026-10-23

Medium confidence
TRAFFIC VOLUME (30-DAY)
AVG LANDINGS/DAY
1
AVG OPS/DAY
1.6
Activity trend over 7 days: falling, from 2 to 1 operations per dayOperations trend (7 days)

Busiest day: Tue · Busiest month: Sep

FLEET MIX
Piston single 47%Jet 21%Helicopter 11%Twin 9%Unknown 8%Other 5%

Mostly small piston aircraft.

TOP AIRCRAFT TYPES
›LJ60 (Jet) · ~2 landings/mo
›R44 (Helicopter) · ~1 landings/mo
›AS50 (Helicopter) · ~1 landings/mo
›B58T (Twin) · ~1 landings/mo
›BE35 (Piston single) · ~1 landings/mo
Data limitations (4)
›ADS-B coverage is incomplete; counts are an observed lower bound, not official totals.
›Some aircraft do not transmit usable ADS-B and are not counted.
›Aircraft types and based estimates are inferred and may be wrong.
›This is not official ATC, FAA, or airport data.
NEARBY AIRPORTS

Weather reference stations

Current flight category at nearby reporting stations.

AIRPORT REMARKS

Operational remarks

›BIRDS AND WATERFOWL INVOF ARPT.
›AP CONDS NOT MMT 1600-0700 DLY.
›PARAGLIDERS AND MOTORIZED PRCHTS OPR FROM RWY SFC.
›TPA 7500' MSL FOR SMALL ACFT; 8000' MSL FOR TRANSPORT/HIGH PERFORMANCE ACFT.
›AVOID DESOLATION WILDERNESS WEST OF ARPT.
›FOR NOISE ABATEMENT INFO CALL (530) 542-6182.
›NOISE ABATEMENT, DEP RWY 36 HDG 1 MILE, LEFT 320 DEG TO SHORELINE.
›AP SFC CONDS: TRML APRON EXCELLENT, TWY - RWY GOOD, NORTH GA APRON POOR.
›AFTER WINTER STORMS RY 18/36 OPENS BEFORE ALL TWYS ARE CLEAR.
›PREFERRED ARRIVAL RY 18; PREFERRED DEP RY 36.
›MULTICOM 122.85
›ADVERSE WEATHER EFFECTS MAGNIFIED BY MOUNTAINS.
›TFC ADVISORIES & SEQUENCING IN THE TFC PAT ARE BASED ON POSITION REPORTS RECEIVED FROM PILOTS IN THESE AREAS.
›ARPT SURROUNDED ON E; S & W BY RAPIDLY RISING TERRAIN.
›ACCESS NOISE RESTRICTIONS: MAX 80 DBA DEP, 84 DBA ARR (TRANSPORT - 86 DBA), MAX 77.1 DBA NIGHT LIMIT.
›ACTVT MALSF RWY 18; MIRL RWY 18/36 - CTAF. PAPI RWY 18 ON CONSLY.
›APCH RATIO 22:1 TO DSPLCD THLD.
›UNUSBL BYD 4 DEG LEFT OF RWY CNTRLN & BYD 5 NM.
›RECREATIONAL AIRBORNE ACTIVITY ALONG SOUTHERN LAKE SHORE.
›(E81) APRON ENTRANCE TWYS AND HIGH SPEED TWYS ONLY.
›COLD TEMPERATURE AIRPORT. ALTITUDE CORRECTION REQUIRED AT OR BELOW -12C.
›AP CONDS NOT MNT SAT/SUN.
›FOR LARGE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE ACFT DEP RY 18; RIGHT DOWNWIND DEP RECOMMENDED.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Does KTVL have a METAR?
Yes. KTVL has a current METAR observation, decoded into plain English on this page.
Does KTVL have a TAF?
Yes, a TAF is issued for KTVL; the decoded forecast timeline is shown above.
What is the field elevation at KTVL?
KTVL sits at 6,264 ft MSL, which factors into the density-altitude estimate on this page.
Is this an official preflight weather briefing for KTVL?
No. wxdecoder.com is for education and situational awareness only. It is not an official weather briefing or a substitute for official sources, NOTAM review, and pilot judgment.
This app is for aviation weather education, training, and situational awareness only. It is not a substitute for an official weather briefing, approved flight-planning software, flight service, dispatch procedures, current FAA regulations, or pilot judgment. Always verify weather with official sources before flight.