Las Vegas records 6th hottest year ever in 2021
How hot was it in 2021? Turns out 2021 tied for the sixth warmest year on record in Las Vegas, according to the National Weather Service.
The average temperature was 71.5 degrees, well ahead of the normal 70.1 degrees. That tied the average temperature recorded in 2020.
Harry Reid International Airport, formerly McCarran, has recorded five of its six hottest years since 2016, with 2019 being the lone exception.
2021 Las Vegas Climate Numbers
🌡️ 6th Warmest Year on Record
🥵117° on 7/10 🏆Hottest temperature recorded in #vegas (previously reached four other times in 2017, 2013, 2005, & 1942)
🥶 32° on 12/11 & 12/19👀 Along with other interesting tied or broken records!#VegasWeather pic.twitter.com/wNvJksEVVn
— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) January 4, 2022
The hottest year on record was 2017 with an average temperature of 72.3 degrees.
While global warming might be considered a factor, the growth of Las Vegas has a major impact, says weather service meteorologist Andy Gorelow.
“It’s called the urban heat island affect,” Gorelow said. “Generally, the more that gets built up around with expansion, roads, asphalt and things like that it traps in a lot of the heat. Mostly it is an overnight thing. The heat gets trapped in because of all the man-made things and it doesn’t cool down as much overnight,” meaning the next day starts warm.
The hottest reading of the year at the airport was 117 degrees recorded on July 10, a temperature also reached in 1942, 2005, 2013 and 2017.
The mercury reached or exceeded 100 degrees on 87 days last year. In addition, on eight days the lowest temperature was 90 degrees or higher.
Las Vegas dropped to freezing only twice in 2021: Dec. 11 and 19. Despite those temperatures, December was still warmer than normal.
The total precipitation for the year was 1.86 inches, well below the norm of 4.18 inches. It was the fourth year in the past five with below-average rainfall.
Contact Marvin Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Marv_in_Vegas on Twitter.
Hottest years in Las Vegas history
(average temperature)
1 . 2017 — 72.3 degrees
2. 2018 — 72.2
3. 2014 — 72.0
4. 2015 — 71.8
5. 2016 — 71.6
