Weather overview for Las Vegas , Nevada
When planning a Las Vegas holiday, your budget might be the first thing that you consider, but you also need to think about what time of year you want to visit. The weather varies greatly throughout the year in Las Vegas the winter months are dry and cold with short days and long nights, whilst the summer months are blisteringly hot with long days and short nights.
Rainfall
Las Vegas is located in Nevada in the Mojave Desert. Thanks to its location, the city experiences an arid desert climate which means there is hardly any rainfall at all even during the winter months. The wettest month of the year in Las Vegas is usually August, when the city is subject to 14mm of rainfall which is divided between six rainy days.
Of the tiny amount of precipitation received by Las Vegas, 58% of it is light rain, 20% is thunderstorms, 17% is moderate rain, 3% is heavy rain and 2% is light snow.
Average Sunshine Hours
Las Vegas typically enjoys 292 days of sunshine each year, 210 of which are classed as sunny days and 82 of which are classed as partly sunny days. January 28th is often the cloudiest day of the year and March 30th is usually the clearest day of the year, although with median cloud coverage of 0% over the course of the year, every day is pretty clear in Las Vegas.
The shortest day of the year is December 21st, with only 9:42 hours of sunlight, whilst the longest day of the year is June 20th, with 14:38 hours of daylight.
Temperature
Late autumn and early spring are the best times of the year to visit Las Vegas, when the average temperatures are pleasantly warm. Since this is when the city enjoys its best weather, these times are also incredibly popular for holidaymakers to visit, which often results in sky-high flight and accommodation prices.
Although it's cold by Las Vegas standards, winter in the city is mild compared to winter in the UK, making December to February a great time to escape the UK winter weather and take a cheap trip to Las Vegas.
If you want to snap up a deal on flights and accommodation, your best bet is to visit during the summer months that's when hotel and flight prices will usually be at their cheapest. Don't forget that the money you save on accommodation and travel will need to be spent on protective clothing and suntan cream, since the weather in Las Vegas at this time of year is incredibly hot and sunny.
Spring Weather in Las Vegas
Temperature
Spring generally falls between March and May in Las Vegas, with the weather getting progressively warmer as the season develops into summer. Average high temperatures start off at 17°C at the beginning of March and steadily creep up until they reach 23°C by the end of March, 28°C by the end of April and peaking at 34°C by the end of May.
Average low temperatures follow a similar pattern, beginning at 7°C at the beginning on March, rising up to 11°C by the end of March, 16°C by the end of April and peaking at 21°C by the end of May. Despite these averages being the standard, temperatures have been known to fall below 4°C and rise above 39°C on an average of once every ten days.
Between March and May, Las Vegas enjoys an average of 11.5 hours of sunshine each day, increasing each month as the season develops. The average precipitation ranges from 13mm over five days in March, before falling to 4mm over three days in April and finally dropping to 2mm over two days by May.
If you plan on visiting Las Vegas during spring, you're best off planning your trip for April, when temperatures are warm enough to be pleasant, but not so hot that you'll be roasting.
Summer Weather in Las Vegas
Temperature
Summer in Las Vegas is dry, hot and long, as you'd imagine for a city located in the middle of the desert. If you choose to leave the comfort of the air-conditioned hotels and casinos between June and August you will be met with the unyielding Mojave Desert sun which sees Nevada reaching temperatures in excess of 40°C on a regular basis.
These temperatures can often seem even hotter, thanks to the lack of humidity caused by the desert location. In Las Vegas in June, the average daily relative humidity is 17%, which rises up to 21% by July and 23% by August.
Average high temperatures between June and August range from 34°C all the way up to 40°C, whilst average low temperatures during these months fall between 21°C and 27°C. In July 2005, Las Vegas experienced its hottest day ever, when temperatures up to 47°C were recorded.
Average Sunshine Hours
Between June and August, Las Vegas boasts an average of 13 hours of sunshine each day, making these months the sunniest months of the year.
Rainfall
Precipitation ranges from a miniscule 2mm over two rainy days in June to 11mm over four rainy days in July and peaking at 14mm over five rainy days in August.
Autumn Weather in Las Vegas
Temperature
Autumn (September-November) in Las Vegas is very similar to spring, when the weather is pleasantly warm. At this time of year, the temperatures gradually decrease each month as the season progresses. Average highs begin at 37°C at the start of September, dropping down to 31°C by the end of September, 23°C by the end of October and 15°C by the end of November.
Average lows follow a similar pattern, starting off at 24°C at the beginning of September, before dropping down to 19°C by the end of September, 12°C by the end of October and 5°C by the end of November. In spite of the average temperatures being the norm, temperatures can sometimes rise above 40°C or fall below 2°C during this season in Las Vegas usually once every ten days.
Average Sunshine Hours
Between September and November, Las Vegas enjoys an average of ten hours of sunshine each day, gradually decreasing as the season develops.
Rainfall
The average precipitation during this season ranges between 7mm over three days in September, up to 8mm over three days in October and 8mm over two days in November.
If you're planning on visiting Las Vegas during autumn, your best bet is to plan your trip for October, when you'll enjoy pleasantly warm temperatures that aren't too cold or too hot.
Winter Weather in Las Vegas
Winter falls between December and February in Las Vegas and sees a significant drop in temperatures, compared to the other months. Instead of craving air conditioning like you will if you visit during the summer months, you're much more likely to need jeans, coats and jumpers to keep yourself comfortable if you visit the city at this time of year.
Temperature
Average highs at this time of year range between 14°C and 17°C, whilst average lows fluctuate between 1°C and 4°C. December and January are usually the coldest months of the year in Las Vegas temperatures slowly drop throughout December whilst they start to rise again across January.
Despite these averages being the norm, temperatures can sometimes fall below 0°C and rise above 22°C during these months, although it tends to only happen once every ten days.
In January 1937, Las Vegas experienced its coldest day ever, when temperatures plummeted down to -13°C. At the beginning of January 1974, Las Vegas also received nine inches of snow another record for the city.
Snow
Although snowfall is incredibly rare for the city, the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is usually sprinkled in a light layer of snow between December and January.
Average Sunshine Hours
During winter, Las Vegas enjoys an average of eight hours of sunshine each day, with December being the darkest month of the season.
Rainfall
Average precipitation starts off at 8mm over four rainy days in December, rising up to 13mm over six days in January.
You can check the weather forecast here.