A month by month list for the Truckee Meadows, built around burn code winters, a groundwater season from mid April, windy dry summers and the wildfire smoke that can follow.
Reno has four real seasons, just with far less water than most places. Normal annual precipitation is only 7.35 inches, January is the wettest month, and the summer brings wind and sometimes smoke. Here is a month by month list to use as a guide, because the high desert does not always follow a schedule.
The airport averages 20.9 inches of snow a year, with about 5 inches each in December, January and February, and about 122 nights at or below freezing. July has a normal high of 93.9 degrees and a normal low of 60.4, and about 65 days a year reach 90 or above.
Northern Nevada Public Health runs its burn code from November 1 through the end of February. The Truckee Meadows Water Authority adds wells from about mid April through October, which it says can change the water chemistry.
January. The wettest month, at 1.25 inches, with snow and slush at the door. Check the burn code before you light a fire, since a Red day bans burning when inversions settle in. Wash entry mats and clean up after the holidays.
February. Burn code season continues. Clean the fireplace glass and the area around the stove once you are done with fires for the week. Change furnace filters, and dust screens and electronics, since static is at its worst in dry winter air.
March. Burn code season has ended. Wash windows on a calm day, and clear out the garage. Sweep out what the winter left around doors and sills, and check for any gaps where wind-blown dust gets in.
April. The water authority typically adds groundwater wells from about mid April, so watch shower glass and faucets for any change. Wipe them dry for a few weeks and see what happens.
May. A good month for a One-Time Deep Clean before the heat. Clear brush and leaves near the house; the Reno Fire Department and Waste Management place free 30 yard green waste dumpsters in neighborhoods near the wildland urban interface.
June. Heat picks up. Change air conditioner filters and clean vent covers. Put together a smoke plan, including a spare filter, so that you are ready if advisories begin.
July. The hottest month, with a normal high of 93.9 degrees. The Washoe Zephyr comes up in the afternoons and evenings, so keep windows shut then, and air out the house in the cool of the morning instead. Normal lows near 60 make that easy.
August. Dry and dusty, with about a quarter inch of rain or less. Wipe blinds and sills with a damp cloth, and vacuum window tracks. Hard water spots can appear on fixtures now, too.
September. Still dry, and sometimes smoky. In September 2026 Northern Nevada Public Health issued an air quality advisory because of regional wildfires. During smoke, keep windows closed, keep the filter clean and do not vacuum or burn candles indoors. Save the big jobs for when the air clears.
October. The well season typically ends around now, so water chemistry may shift again. Clear leaves from gutters and around the house. A deep clean after smoke season is a good way to take care of what has settled on blinds and fans.
November. Burn code season begins on November 1. Have your chimney or stove checked, and clean the hearth. This is also a good month for a deep clean before holiday cooking.
December. Snow arrives in earnest, particularly in the foothills, which can get two to three times what the airport does. Set up mats and a boot tray. A Recurring House Clean can keep up with the regular work while you handle the holidays.
The questions Reno homeowners ask most often about this topic, answered plainly.
TotalCare Cleaning will service Reno and surrounding areas with background-checked cleaners and is insured up to $1 million. Re-clean guarantee: if we missed something, tell us by the end of the next day and we come back to fix it. Beyond Clean. TotalCare.
