The name Tatlayoko is derived from the Tsilhqot'in language and means "lake of the big winds."
[2] True to its name, the community is windy throughout the fall and winter as the warm Chinook winds blow up the valley. The Chilcotin Plateau is known for being extremely cold in the winter, but Tatlayoko Lake is an exception thanks to its proximity to the mild Pacific Ocean. While the coastal winds bring the community relatively mild winters, the mountains block most of the coastal precipitation, leaving the community comparatively dry.
In relation to the nearby community of Tatla Lake and indeed the rest of the Chilcotin Plateau off to the east, Tatlayoko Lake tends to be wetter in the winter and drier in the summer. Tatlayoko Lake has a continental climate (Dfb), bordering on a subarctic climate (Dfc).
The hottest temperature on record on 29 June 2021 when the temperature climbed to 39.6 °C (103 °F).
- Driest Year (2002) = 264 mm (10 in)
- Wettest Year (1950) = 626 mm (25 in)
- Warmest Year (1941) = 5.9 °C (43 °F)
- Coldest Year (1957) = 2.2 °C (36 °F)
| Climate data for Tatlayoko Lake |
| Month |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Year |
| Record high °C (°F) |
15.6
(60.1) |
17.8
(64.0) |
21.4
(70.5) |
29.4
(84.9) |
33.5
(92.3) |
39.6
(103.3) |
37.8
(100.0) |
35.3
(95.5) |
32.2
(90.0) |
27.8
(82.0) |
18.3
(64.9) |
15
(59) |
39.6
(103.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) |
−0.7
(30.7) |
3.0
(37.4) |
7.2
(45.0) |
11.8
(53.2) |
16.1
(61.0) |
19.3
(66.7) |
22.4
(72.3) |
22.7
(72.9) |
18.6
(65.5) |
11.5
(52.7) |
3.1
(37.6) |
−1.6
(29.1) |
11.1
(52.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) |
−5.7
(21.7) |
−2.9
(26.8) |
0.7
(33.3) |
4.5
(40.1) |
8.3
(46.9) |
11.6
(52.9) |
13.9
(57.0) |
13.9
(57.0) |
10.1
(50.2) |
4.8
(40.6) |
−1.6
(29.1) |
−6.3
(20.7) |
4.3
(39.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) |
−10.5
(13.1) |
−8.7
(16.3) |
−5.7
(21.7) |
−2.8
(27.0) |
0.6
(33.1) |
3.7
(38.7) |
5.4
(41.7) |
5.0
(41.0) |
1.5
(34.7) |
−1.8
(28.8) |
−6.2
(20.8) |
−11.1
(12.0) |
−2.6
(27.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) |
−43.3
(−45.9) |
−37.2
(−35.0) |
−32.8
(−27.0) |
−21.1
(−6.0) |
−10
(14) |
−5
(23) |
−3
(27) |
−4
(25) |
−9.5
(14.9) |
−27
(−17) |
−39
(−38) |
−40.6
(−41.1) |
−43.3
(−45.9) |
| Record low wind chill |
−45 |
−37 |
−36 |
−20 |
−13 |
−6 |
−5 |
−5 |
−11 |
−22 |
−41 |
−39 |
−45 |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) |
42.2
(1.66) |
23.2
(0.91) |
26.7
(1.05) |
20.0
(0.79) |
31.9
(1.26) |
37.3
(1.47) |
39.6
(1.56) |
33.8
(1.33) |
26.9
(1.06) |
53.7
(2.11) |
55.3
(2.18) |
47.0
(1.85) |
435.5
(17.15) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) |
20.2
(0.80) |
9.9
(0.39) |
14.6
(0.57) |
15.0
(0.59) |
29.8
(1.17) |
37.3
(1.47) |
39.6
(1.56) |
33.8
(1.33) |
26.5
(1.04) |
50.2
(1.98) |
31.5
(1.24) |
16.7
(0.66) |
324.7
(12.78) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) |
20.0
(7.9) |
13.4
(5.3) |
12.1
(4.8) |
5.0
(2.0) |
2.1
(0.8) |
0.0
(0.0) |
0.0
(0.0) |
0.0
(0.0) |
0.4
(0.2) |
3.5
(1.4) |
23.8
(9.4) |
30.7
(12.1) |
110.8
(43.6) |
| Average relative humidity (%) |
70.0 |
55.0 |
53.1 |
38.6 |
43.8 |
46.1 |
37.3 |
34.6 |
36.8 |
47.4 |
70.7 |
73.0 |
50.5 |
| Source: Environment Canada[3] |
