Las Vegas Hits Record 80 Degrees in February, Shattering 2018 Mark

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Las Vegas experienced an unprecedented warm spell Monday, as temperatures soared to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, shattering the previous record of 77 degrees set in 2018, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The mercury at Harry Reid International Airport, the official measuring station, reached the milestone by Monday afternoon, marking the warmest day in the city since Oct. 28. The NWS reported the temperature spike on social media, noting that the region could see even warmer conditions in the coming days.

By 9:40 a.m. Monday, temperatures had already climbed to 63 degrees, several degrees above the normal high for Feb. 3. By noon, the temperature had reached 74 degrees, setting the stage for the record-breaking afternoon. Tuesday is expected to bring similar conditions, with a forecast high near 76 degrees, just shy of the Feb. 4 record of 76 degrees set in 1953.

“This is the warmest we’ve been since October 28th,” the NWS Las Vegas office posted on X. “We’ll see if it gets any warmer.”

Wind gusts up to 23 mph are forecast for Tuesday, increasing to 31 mph on Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to remain in the lower 70s through Friday before dropping to the 60s over the weekend.

Meanwhile, heavy snowfall is impacting the Eastern Sierras, several hundred miles northwest of Las Vegas. Inyo County, California, is under a winter weather advisory, with the NWS predicting up to a foot of snow in middle elevations and 1 to 3 feet over the peaks. High winds associated with the storm caused significant disruptions at Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Sunday, delaying or canceling more than 30 flights, according to FlightAware. One flight from Las Vegas to Reno was forced to turn around midflight due to the severe weather.

The unseasonably warm temperatures in Las Vegas come as the region continues to grapple with long-term drought conditions. The city has seen a record number of dry days in recent years, with 2020 marking 240 consecutive days without measurable rain.

Residents and visitors alike are enjoying the early taste of spring, but meteorologists caution that the warm spell is temporary. “We’ll see a cool-down later in the week,” the NWS said, urging people to stay updated on weather forecasts.