9/26/2023 0 Comments Las vegas weather this weekendThe topography of the Las Vegas region also makes it prone to high, often damaging winds. This kind of storm (and rain in general) is rare, but even a light shower can make things treacherous on the roads, the sidewalks, and the slippery marble walkways that front almost every casino in town. A 2013 storm caused havoc up and down the Strip with collapsed ceilings in the Mirage, a flooded casino at Caesars Palace, and a waterfall inside Gilley’s at Treasure Island (go look it up on YouTube). The deluge killed two people, swamped hundreds of cars, and destroyed millions of dollars in property. On July 9, 1999, Mother Nature unleashed more than 3 inches of rain in just a few hours on a city that averages about 4 inches of rain a year. Between June and August, when most of the area’s rainfall takes place due to the Southwest’s monsoon season, there is a good possibility of flash flooding.Īt times, the skies just open up, resulting in flooding that wreaks havoc on Sin City. The soil in Las Vegas is parched most of the year, making it difficult for the land to absorb large amounts of water coming down in a short time. Though snow is a novel quirk that many Vegas residents and visitors welcome, rain isn’t always as well received. Locals usually find the snow a charming addition to the city (and the stuff melts completely in a day or two, so they don’t have to shovel it-lucky them). And more recently (the winter of 2008–09), Vegas received nearly 3 inches of snow on the Strip itself, with nearly 10 inches accumulating in other areas of town. In December 2003, parts of Las Vegas got 6 inches of the white stuff, and although it didn’t stick around too long on the Strip, the sight of the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign in the middle of a driving blizzard was quite a spectacle. Most years see a flurry or two falling on Las Vegas, and since 1949, a total of 12 “storms” have resulted in accumulations of 2 inches or greater, with the largest storm dropping 9 inches on the Strip in January 1949. And snow is not an unheard-of occurrence. Winter temperatures in Las Vegas have been known to dip below 30F (–1C), and when you toss in 40 mph winds, that adds up to a very chilly stroll on the Strip. Although Las Vegas’s location results in broiling-hot temperatures in the summer, many people tend to forget that deserts get cold and rainy, while wind is also a potential hazard. Wild Weather - Las Vegas rests in the middle of a desert, so how wacky can the weather possibly get? A lot crazier than you think. Also, remember sunscreen and a hat-even if it’s not all that hot, you can burn very easily and very fast. If you aren’t traveling in the height of summer, bring a jacket. And so there are entire portions of the year when you won’t be using that hotel pool at all (even if you want to most of the hotels close huge chunks of those pool areas for “the season,” which can be as long as the period from Labor Day to Memorial Day). The breeze can also become a cold, biting wind of up to 40 mph or more. There’s nothing quite like the sight of Luxor’s Sphinx covered in snow. The winter of 2008 to 2009 dropped nearly 3 inches of snow on the Strip. Although rare, it does snow occasionally in Las Vegas. It can get quite cold, especially in the winter, when at night it can drop to 30F (–1C) and lower. Also, except on the hottest summer days, there’s relief at night, when temperatures often drop by as much as 20°.īut this is the desert, and it’s not hot year-round. Dehydration and heatstroke are two of the most common ailments that affects-don’t be a victim of either one of them. Having said that, once the temperature gets into triple digits, it is wise to limit the amount of time you spend outdoors, and to make sure you are drinking plenty of water even while you are inside enjoying the blessed air-conditioning (which is omnipresent). We know this is true because we spent a couple of days there in 104F (40C) weather and lived to say, “It wasn’t all that bad, not really.” The humidity averages a low 22%, and even on very hot days, there’s apt to be a breeze. One thing you’ll hear again and again is that even though Las Vegas gets very hot, the dry desert heat is not unbearable. First of all, Vegas isn’t always hot, but when it is, it’s really hot.
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