February in Reno by the numbers
- Average high / low52 F / 29 F
- Precipitation1.03 in
- Snowfall5.2 in
- Days at or below freezing22
- Days at 90 F or hotter0
- Sunrise / sunset mid-month (approx.)6:53 / 17:34
Data (station Reno-Tahoe International Airport): NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020; NOAA solar calculator equations (approximate).
February is the month when the valley starts to feel milder while the Sierra is still deep in winter. Reno's airport normals show a high of 52.1 F, yet Truckee's ranger station averages 47.9 inches of snow in the same month, its snowiest of the year. That gap is the story of a February move in this region.
A valley month and a mountain month
In Reno and Sparks, February has about 7 days with measurable precipitation and 21.6 days at or below freezing, down from January. Mornings are still cold, and afternoons often reach the low fifties. That makes loading and unloading comfortable by midday, with icy patches in the early hours.
At Truckee, the NOAA normals list a 44.5 F high and a 17.6 F low in February with 47.9 inches of snow. A house in Truckee or Tahoe City may have snow berms at the curb and a driveway that needs plowing before a truck can back in. Tell the estimator who clears the drive and where the snow is stacked.
Light is returning
The mid-February sunrise at the warehouse is about 6:53 am and the sunset about 5:34 pm, which is 10.7 hours of daylight and an hour more than mid-January. A crew has a longer window to finish a loaded trailer before dark.
If your move is a full-day job, a larger share of it now happens in daylight, which helps with carrying furniture down icy steps.
Holiday weekend planning
Presidents Day gives some households a three-day weekend, and many people try to move then. Book that date early and ask your estimator for options, including a Friday or Tuesday date, which can be easier on parking and elevators.
Apartment managers may limit moving hours, so ask for the rules in writing.
Chains, passes and a storm plan
- Look at Caltrans chain controls before heading over Donner Summit; R-1, R-2 and R-3 describe how much equipment is required.
- Use Nevada 511 for Nevada roads, including Mount Rose Highway and US 395.
- Keep a snow shovel, gloves and a flashlight in your own car, not on the truck.
- Ask your estimator what happens if a storm closes a road: the written estimate sets your delivery window.
- Consider short-term storage between homes if a closing date moves.