Surviving the Las Vegas summer heat

Death Valley National Park
Photo: Goosefriend, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

From June to September, Las Vegas is one of the hottest cities in the United States. Average July highs are about 104 °F (40 °C), and heat waves push past 110 °F (43 °C).

Plan around the sun

  • Do outdoor things before 10 am or after sunset.
  • Midday is for pools, shows, museums and indoor shopping.
  • Hiking in summer: start at dawn and finish by 9 or 10 am. Valley of Fire closes many trails from mid-May to September.

Drink more than you think

The air is very dry, so you don’t notice sweating. Drink water steadily, especially if you are drinking alcohol.

Danger signs

Heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, headache. Get into the cool, drink water and rest. Heat stroke (confusion, hot dry skin, fainting) is an emergency: call 911.

Other tips

  • Pavements and car interiors get hot enough to burn: careful with children and pets.
  • Wear sunscreen and a hat even for short walks between resorts.
  • Monsoon season (July to September) can bring sudden storms and flash floods; never drive into flooded roads.

Official sources: National Weather Service, Las Vegas

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