Record-Breaking Heat Persists in Southern Nevada and California, with Slight Relief Expected

Hotter areas like Death Valley and the Colorado River Valley saw daily highs of over 100°F.Photo byIvana CajinaonUnsplash

Las Vegas, NV — Unseasonably warm temperatures continue to grip Southern Nevada and parts of California, with several areas shattering heat records. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Las Vegas reported that Needles, California, reached a scorching 107°F on Tuesday, tying the latest date for temperatures exceeding 105°F, a record set on October 8, 1964. Las Vegas tied its own record at 98°F, contributing to an unusually warm start to October.

For the first seven days of October, Las Vegas recorded an average temperature of 88.4°F—six degrees warmer than any other start to October since records began in 1937. In addition, several record warm overnight lows were set, adding to the city’s heat wave.

The NWS attributed the hot conditions to a weak upper ridge, allowing temperatures to soar into the 90s and low 100s across Southern Nevada and nearby regions. Hotter areas like Death Valley and the Colorado River Valley saw daily highs of over 100°F, with an 80-100% chance of such temperatures continuing through the end of the week.

Meanwhile, isolated high-based showers in Nye, Lincoln, and northern Mohave counties brought some brief gusty winds due to evaporative cooling, but most of the rainfall failed to reach the ground except at higher elevations.

Looking ahead, forecasters expect some relief as the weekend approaches. A slight drop in temperatures is anticipated, with fewer days of 90s and 100s by mid to late next week. Ensemble models predict the emergence of an upper trough across the western U.S., signaling the potential for more seasonal fall-like conditions, including cooler overnight lows and breezier afternoons.