Nevada Climate – July 2026 Update
Top 5 Cities: Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, North Las Vegas, and Sparks
Summary
Nevada experienced an extraordinarily hot period through late summer, driven by relentless heat waves that pushed temperatures well above historical baselines across the Silver State. Between May and July, average temperatures reached 19.96°C, marking the 3rd warmest May to July on record and leaving daytime maximums at their 5th highest levels. The persistent warmth occurred alongside a moderate El Niño forecast to peak at Very Strong in Sep-Nov, with elevated temperatures anticipated to linger across the region over the coming months.
This month in numbers
The May to July period delivered remarkable heat, with average temperatures of 19.96°C sitting 2.3°C above the 1961-1990 baseline to rank as the 3rd warmest May to July since 1950. Maximum temperatures over those three months averaged 28.68°C, a 2.6°C anomaly that stands as the 5th highest on record. For July 2026 specifically, the average temperature reached 24.61°C (+2.3°C anomaly), placing it 10th overall for the month, while daytime maximum temperatures averaged 33.39°C. Precipitation for July totalled 17.53 mm, which is 2.2 mm above normal. Globally, land temperatures for July ranked 3rd warmest on record at 15.8°C (+1.6°C anomaly).
What changed
This recent surge builds on a sustained warming trend that saw 2025 set the record as Nevada's warmest full year at 11.79°C, part of a long-term rise of +1.23°C above the baseline. Over the past 12 months, Nevada recorded an average temperature anomaly of +2.91°C, placing the state 8th warmest out of 232 global regions tracked in our dataset. Within the NOAA West climate region, Nevada stood out as the warmest member, with its July anomaly of +2.30°C running 0.38°C above the group average of +1.92°C.
What’s driving change?
Nevada's summer temperature spikes are largely amplified by persistent that trap hot air over the Great Basin, while prevents evaporative cooling and pushes afternoon temperatures higher. Tropical Pacific conditions are also shifting, with a moderate El Niño currently active in the equatorial Pacific, tracked live at ENSO. While El Niño historically brings a slight tendency toward wetter winter conditions in the American Southwest, its immediate effect has coincided with intense regional heat. On the extreme weather front, all of Nevada's 1 wildfire this year happened in the past month, an event monitored on our live map at Extreme Weather tracker.
Looking ahead
Looking into the autumn and winter months, NOAA outlooks and climate models indicate that temperatures are likely to remain above average across Nevada, with a 93% probability that the developing El Niño will reach Very Strong intensity between September and November.
Generated by Gemini from climate data and web sources
At a Glance
Temperature – Average
Climate Map – USUnited States
Source: NOAA Climate at a Glance — US states & climate regions (tavg, pcp), plus GPCC (Snow, water-equivalent). Anomalies are vs the 1961–1990 baseline. See methodology.
Typical Climate – Nevada
Köppen BSk · AridNevada has a arid climate (Köppen BSk: Cold steppe), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 24.2°C, while January is the coldest at 0.6°C. Annual precipitation averages around 257mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Monthly climate normals (2016–2025) - bar colour and height show average temperature, the shaded area shows average monthly rain, with snow (water-equivalent) shown separately.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Long-Term Trends
Combined Timeline – Nevada
Precipitation, Sunshine, Frost and Snow are converted to standard deviations from their own average so they can share an axis with Temperature.
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Heatwave Days – Nevada
Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - days in a 6+ day run above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that time of year.
Data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal (ERA5-derived). Refreshed roughly 1-2x/year, ~7-8 months behind present.
Year-on-Year Trends
The 4byo Climate Helix – Nevada
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Monthly Temperature – Nevada
Background lines show the last 40 years (plus the record year and its opposite, wherever they fall).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Records – Nevada
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)) - Anomalies vs 1901-2000 mean
Shifting Seasons
Warm / cold seasonsKöppen BSk · AridHow spring and autumn have shifted in Nevada. Spring is defined as the date monthly temperatures first rise above the long-term annual mean (9.7°C, from 1950–1979); autumn is the date they fall back below it. Temperature swings 23.3°C peak-to-peak across the year - a classic four-seasons rhythm.
Baseline vs recent monthly temperature climatology. Biggest warming: Jun (+2.1°C).
Data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (temperature/precipitation; frost: World Bank CCKP; snow: GPCC (DWD)).
Climate Systems
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Emissions & Energy
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Data Sources
Data Sources for Nevada
Every figure on this page is sourced from official, openly published climate datasets. Anomalies are calculated against the 1961–1990 baseline (temperature) and 1991–2020 (rainfall, sunshine, frost) - see the Methodology & Sources page for the complete dataset list and update calendar.
Statewide monthly temperature and precipitation (nClimDiv).
Frost Days and Heatwave Days (Warm Spell Duration Index), ERA5-derived. World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal.
Monthly snow water-equivalent, Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (DWD).
FAQs
FAQs
How is the climate in Nevada changing?
Nevada is warming in line with the rest of the world. The page above shows the latest monthly temperature anomaly versus the 1961-1990 baseline, the long-term annual trend, and the region's rank in the historical record. The headline panel also shows the long-term trend rate per decade and the warmest and coolest years on file.
What is the climate like in Nevada?
Nevada has a arid climate (Köppen BSk: Cold steppe), with distinct warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. July is typically the warmest month, averaging 24.2°C, while January is the coldest at 0.6°C. Annual precipitation averages around 257mm, spread fairly evenly across the year.
Where does the climate data for Nevada come from?
Climate data for Nevada comes from NOAA Climate at a Glance (temperature and precipitation), refreshed every month, when the upstream temperature and rainfall data are refreshed.
What is the climate baseline used on this page?
Anomalies on this page are calculated against the 1961-1990 climatological baseline, which is the standard reference period used by the Met Office, NOAA, IPCC and most national climate services. Some panels also show the source-native 1901-2000 (NOAA) or 1991-2020 (WMO) baselines for verification. See Methodology & Sources for the full reference.
Which areas does the Nevada climate data cover?
The Nevada climate profile covers Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, North Las Vegas and surrounding areas. Nevada climate data from NOAA Climate at a Glance
How often is the Nevada climate update refreshed?
The Nevada climate update is refreshed monthly, typically a few days after the previous month closes and the upstream provider (Met Office HadUK-Grid, NOAA Climate at a Glance, Copernicus ERA5 or the Global Carbon Project) publishes its update. See the Climate Rankings for cross-region comparisons.
What counts as a Heatwave Day on the Nevada climate page?
Heatwave Days use the Warm Spell Duration Index (WSDI) - the WMO/ETCCDI-standard heatwave measure: days that are part of a run of 6 or more consecutive days above the local 90th-percentile temperature for that calendar day. The 90th-percentile threshold varies by time of year (a hot day in January is judged differently to one in July) but is fixed to the 1961-1990 baseline for every year shown - it does not shift as the climate warms, which is why Heatwave Days trend upward over time.
Does the Nevada climate page include frost and snow data?
Yes. Frost Days (days with a minimum temperature below 0°C, World Bank CCKP) and snow water-equivalent (GPCC) are shown alongside temperature and precipitation, each measured against the 1961-1990 baseline where a like-for-like historical comparison is available.