Nevada Weather Radar

Nevada climate

Nevada is the driest state in the nation, receiving an average of only about 10 inches of precipitation per year across its vast desert landscape. The state's climate is arid to semi-arid, characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and extreme daily temperature swings due to low humidity and clear skies. Las Vegas, in the Mojave Desert, averages only 4 inches of rain per year while summer temperatures routinely exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Despite its overall aridity, the Sierra Nevada mountains along the western border intercept Pacific moisture and receive heavy snowfall, with some areas accumulating over 300 inches per season. The Lake Tahoe region is a world-class ski destination benefiting from this orographic precipitation. The rain shadow east of the Sierra is responsible for the extreme dryness of most of the state.

Flash flooding is Nevada's most dangerous weather hazard, occurring when intense thunderstorms dump heavy rain onto hard, sun-baked desert soils that cannot absorb the moisture. The Las Vegas Valley has experienced devastating flash floods despite its arid climate. Dust storms and high winds are common across the desert basins, and wildfire season has become an increasing concern as invasive grasses spread across the Great Basin landscape.