December checklist
- Stay out from under bowed or ice-covered limbs
- Call a tree service for large or high storm damage
- Keep emergency numbers handy: 911, NV Energy, then the tree service
- Water only on thawed, snow-free ground above 40 F
- Keep walks and drives cleared or arranged with a snow service
- Check the burn code before using a stove
- Plan late-winter pruning for January and February
Carson City's December snowfall of 6.4 inches beats January's 3.6 and also the Reno airport's 5.2. At Tahoe, Glenbrook's 3.05 inches of December precipitation is more than double Carson City's 1.50.
December weather at five stations
Carson City's 6.4 inches is its highest month of the year, and its 14.0-inch annual total is the sum of 3.6 in January, 1.7 in February, 1.6 in March, 0.7 in November and 6.4 in December. Reno and Minden each get 5.2 inches, and Fallon 1.4. Mean temperatures run 32 to 36 F at the valley stations.
| Station (elevation, ft) | Mean temp (F) | Precip (in.) | Snow (in.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reno airport (4,410) | 36.2 | 1.10 | 5.2 |
| Carson City (4,761) | 34.2 | 1.50 | 6.4 |
| Minden (4,709) | 32.2 | 1.54 | 5.2 |
| Glenbrook (Tahoe) (6,350) | 32.7 | 3.05 | no normal |
| Fallon (3,965) | 32.1 | 0.39 | 1.4 |
Station normals, not town averages. NOAA flags Glenbrook's temperature normals as reduced completeness and publishes no snowfall normal there.
What the trees are doing
Dormant. Snow and ice are the main loads. Trees with tight forks, included bark, long heavy limbs or old wounds are the ones that fail. See storm and snow-load breakage for what an arborist checks.
Jobs that fit December
Storm clean-up, safety assessment, cabling and stabilization, and hazard removal are the work. Missouri Extension warns that bowed branches store energy and that a limb hanging by a strip of bark can drop without notice, so leave them to a crew. Avoid ice-covered branches. Do not stand under a limb to assess it. If a tree is on a house, see the first-hour checklist.
Snow, ice and trees
Plows and piled snow damage trunks, and de-icing salt can harm roots; see protecting trees from plow and snow-load damage and ice melt, salt and your trees. Our snow team is available around the clock in snow season. Ask whether your address is on the route.
Valley versus lake
Around the lake, snow lasts longer than in the valleys, and access can be the hard part. After a storm, the priority is existing clients, but we serve anyone in need. The emergency line is 775.232.8243 and is answered around the clock. Estimates for planned work are free.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, monthly (Reno airport USW00023185, Carson City USC00261485, Minden USC00265191, Glenbrook USC00263205, Fallon Exp Stn USC00262780) (pulled October 17, 2026)
- University of Missouri Extension: Caring for Snow-Damaged Trees (read October 17, 2026)
- NV Energy: Trees and power lines (read October 1, 2026)
- Northern Nevada Public Health: Wood-Burning Devices (read October 17, 2026)