Las Vegas welcomes August with extreme heat

Las Vegas is bracing for another round of extreme heat as the National Weather Service maintains an excessive heat warning for southern Nevada through 8 p.m. Sunday, a period that began Thursday morning. Forecaster Ashley Nickerson said the projected high for both Saturday and Sunday is 114 degrees. The valley has already experienced temperatures of 110 degrees or higher on most days of the past week, with Harry Reid International Airport recording 113 degrees on Friday. Daily high records could be matched or surpassed this weekend. Saturday’s record stands at 116 degrees, set in 1979 and again in 1938; Sunday’s record is 115 degrees, set in 1979 and 1977. The typical high for early August in Las Vegas averages 105 degrees. During a recent heat spell, the airport hit 114 degrees on July 24, marking the hottest reading of 2026 so far. In response to the dangerous temperatures, Clark County has opened cooling stations at community centers, libraries and other facilities across the valley, with operations continuing through Wednesday. Hours differ by site, and locations include Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson. The stations are available to anyone seeking relief from the heat, according to county officials. Additional details can be found on the Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care website at helphopehome.org/get-help/. July weather statistics highlight the severity of the season: - The valley recorded highs in the 90s only twice: July 1 at 98 degrees and July 17 at 97 degrees, the latter noted as the 'coolest' day of the month. - Las Vegas logged its first 110‑degree day of the year on July 8. - Harry Reid International Airport recorded 12 days with temperatures of 110 degrees or above, short of the yearly average of 10 such days. In 2024, the airport saw a record 36 days of at least 110 degrees. - No measurable rain fell at the airport in July, though a trace was noted on July 19. The previous occasion with only a trace of July rainfall occurred in 2023. The mean July precipitation is 0.38 inches; in 2022 the airport recorded 0.68 inches, the last time it met or exceeded the average.