Weather Overview for Las Vegas

When planning a trip to Las Vegas, reflecting on your bank balance tends to take higher priority on the considerations list than does the weather. However, if the weather is something that you feel will affect your luck on the slots then it is worth understanding Nevada’s arid, dry, desert climate.

Las Vegas is located in Mojave Desert, aligned with the Sierra Nevada Mountain range, which create a ‘rain shadow’ resulting in the region year round low rainfall. Las Vegas typically receives 250 days of sunshine per year, and only 4 inches of annual rain.

Late autumn and early spring are the best and so most popular times to visit as the heat is high while not at scorching summer levels. Winter is very mild and great for escaping a cold, grey Christmas at home. Summer months see cheaper room prices as many choose not to endure the searing heat.

SUMMER

Summer in Las Vegas is harsh. Keep in mind that you are, after all, in the middle of the desert. If you choose to leave the air-conditioned comfort of the hotels and casinos you will be met with the unyielding Mojave Desert Sun which sees Nevada receiving numerous days in excess of 40°C (100F).

July has an average high of 40.1°C, only falling to an average minimum of 25.7°C. It is the month of July that saw Las Vegas experience its hottest ever day in 2005, when the city sweltered in 47°C heat. June and August are hardly cooler with average highs of 36°C. Temperatures in or above the 30s last from May till mid October.

Summer nights provide little relief as the temperatures remain in their mid to high 20’s. While the temperatures are soaring the humidity in Las Vegas is very low which makes the heat much more bearable.

WINTER

Winter, from December to February, sees Las Vegas receiving quite pleasant weather. Average high temperatures throughout winter sit at between 17°C and 14°C. Nights, however, manage to get really cold; December and January have an average low of 1°C and it regularly falls below freezing.

Vegas’s coldest ever temperature was recorded in January, when the barometer plummeted to -13 °C, though this did occur back in 1937. It was also at the beginning of January 1974 Las Vegas received 9 inches of snow. While it very rarely snows in the city itself winter snow is usually visible from December to late April on the surrounding mountains.

The majority of Nevada’s annual rain falls during the winter months, carrying through until March, though this is still only 1.5 to 2cm precipitation per month.

AUTUMN/ SPRING

Spring is one of the best times to visit Vegas. Temperatures are pleasant, with warm to hot days and the nights are more agreeable. The average high temperature climbs to 21°C in March and 26°C in April. Night time lows do not get above 10°C till mid April.

Autumn is much the same; once the September heat dies down the average high temperature falls to 28°C in October and 19°C in November. However, November nights average at 6°C. There is still 80 – 90% daily sunshine throughout autumn.