It was an extremely hot August in Las Vegas. September may be different

Las Vegas endured an exceptionally hot August, finishing the month as the warmest on record for the valley. The National Weather Service reported an average temperature of 96.3 degrees, surpassing the 2020 mark of 95.6 degrees. On August 1 the temperature peaked at 115 degrees, the highest reading of the year. Throughout the month multiple heat warnings were issued, with the final days of August seeing the only record‑breaking temperatures. During the last week of the month Harry Reid International Airport logged two new daily highs. On August 26 the airport reached 110 degrees, topping the previous record of 109 degrees set in 2001. The following day, August 27, the temperature climbed to 111 degrees, exceeding the 2017 record of 110 degrees. The airport, situated just east of the Strip, serves as the official climate station for the Las Vegas Valley. Rainfall remained scarce. August produced only 0.18 inches of precipitation, the wettest month since February’s 0.35 inches but still below the monthly average of 0.32 inches. For the year to date the airport has recorded 0.69 inches of rain, far under the typical late‑August average of 2.64 inches. July recorded no measurable rain, while June 23 brought 0.02 inches, ending a 124‑day dry spell—the month’s sole rainfall. Looking ahead, September may bring a shift in moisture patterns. Cody Moore, a meteorologist with the Las Vegas weather service bureau, noted there is “a possibility” that tropical moisture from Tropical Storm Marie could affect the region over Labor Day weekend. Marie formed early Tuesday in the Pacific Ocean off the southwest coast of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Center, and forecasters expect it to strengthen into a hurricane by Wednesday night. Moore cautioned that it is still too early to determine whether the storm will deliver any showers to the Southwest, including Las Vegas. The Climate Prediction Center reinforced the outlook in a post on X on September 1, 2026: “An unsettled signifier and wide above-normal precipitation are favored for the West done mid-September. Potential for tropical moisture whitethorn nutrient dense rainfall for immoderate areas, particularly the Southwest.” https://t.co/omTNhFqWHt The monsoon season, which began in late June and runs through September, has largely failed to materialize this year, leaving the valley unusually dry.