Las Vegas Weather 2025 Explained (Simply): The Year of Weird Rain and Record Heat

Las Vegas Weather 2025 Explained (Simply): The Year of Weird Rain and Record Heat

So, you’re looking at Las Vegas weather 2025 and wondering what on earth happened out there in the desert. Honestly, it was a weird one. If you’ve spent any time in Southern Nevada, you know the drill: hot, dry, more hot, and maybe a sprinkle of rain that evaporates before it hits your windshield. But 2025 decided to go off-script. We had the wettest May in recorded history, a summer that felt "cool" only because 2024 was a literal furnace, and a December that broke records for being way too warm.

It’s the kind of year that makes packing for a trip feel like a guessing game. You’d think a desert city would be predictable, but last year proved that "average" is a pretty loose term in the Mojave.

What Most People Get Wrong About Las Vegas Weather 2025

The biggest misconception? That it was just another blistering, dry year. While we still hit 112°F in July, the real story was the water. Total precipitation for the year hit 5.41 inches. That might sound like a joke if you’re from Seattle, but for Vegas, that’s huge. It made 2025 the 19th wettest year since we started keeping track.

Most of that moisture came in strange bursts. May, typically a month where we start complaining about the heat, was a total washout. It was the wettest May ever recorded at Harry Reid International Airport. You had hikers getting caught in flash floods and pool parties getting moved indoors. It wasn’t just the rain, though; it was the wind. On July 1st, a massive dust storm—a haboob, for the weather nerds—ripped through the valley with 60 to 70 mph gusts. It knocked out power in Henderson and turned the Strip into a scene from Mad Max for a few hours.

The Numbers That Actually Matter

  • Hottest Temp: 112°F (Hit twice, in mid-July and mid-August).
  • Total 100°F Days: 77. (Wait, only 77? In 2024, we had 112. This felt like a gift.)
  • Wettest Month: May (Record-breaking).
  • Warmest December: Ever. Seriously, the end of the year was bizarrely mild.

Why 2025 Still Matters for Your Next Trip

If you’re planning a trip soon, you have to look at how these patterns are shifting. The "traditional" seasons are getting blurry. December 2025 saw afternoon highs 10 to 15 degrees above normal. People were walking the Strip in t-shirts on Christmas Eve.

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While the summer of 2025 was technically the 10th warmest on record, it felt "chilly" to locals. Why? Because we didn't have as many days over 110°F. In 2024, the heat was relentless, but 2025 gave us some breathing room. We didn't even hit a low temperature of 90°F all summer—the first time that’s happened since 2011. That matters for the "nightlife" crowd. Usually, at 2 AM in July, it still feels like you’re standing behind a jet engine. Last year, the nights were actually tolerable.

The monsoon season, which usually brings the drama in August, was actually pretty quiet—at least until late in the month. It was the fourth-driest monsoon on record, which is probably why the year ended so dry until December brought another round of rain.

Seasonal Breakdown: What Really Happened

  1. Winter/Spring: Started out pretty standard, then May went rogue with the rain.
  2. Summer: Hot, obviously, but manageable. The July 1st windstorm was the standout "scary" event.
  3. Fall/Early Winter: November was wet, and December was basically a long, warm autumn.

The "Weather Daddy" Effect and Real Experts

There’s this guy on Reddit (the locals call him "Weather Daddy") who tracks the weather for the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) every May. In 2025, his predictions were basically the only thing people trusted. He was calling for near-average temps around 88°F for the festival, but everyone was nervous about the wind. Wind is the real villain in Vegas weather. It can shut down stages faster than a power outage.

Meteorologists like Matt Woods from the National Weather Service pointed out that while 2025 didn't break the all-time heat records of the previous year, the "warm and dry" trend is the new baseline. We’re seeing a persistent ridge of high pressure that just won't quit. Even with La Niña cooling parts of the Pacific, the Southwest stays stubborn.

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Actionable Insights for Future Visitors

So, what do you do with this info? If you’re looking at Las Vegas weather 2025 and trying to plan a 2026 or 2027 run, here is the ground truth:

Don't trust May. Everyone says it's the "perfect" month. 2025 proved it can be a rainy mess. If you're planning an outdoor wedding or a big event, have a "Plan B" that involves a roof.

July is for the brave. Even in a "cooler" year like 2025, 112°F will melt your flip-flops if you leave them on the pavement. If you aren't in a pool or under an AC vent between 1 PM and 6 PM, you’re doing it wrong.

Layer up for the wind. It’s not the cold that gets you in Vegas; it’s the wind chill. A 60-degree night with 30 mph gusts feels like 40 degrees. 2025 had plenty of those "breezy" days that caught tourists off guard.

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December is the new October. If you want to walk the Strip without freezing or melting, the end of the year is becoming a sweet spot. Just don't expect a "White Christmas"—you're more likely to get a "Shorts and Sandals Christmas."

Basically, 2025 was a year of "extremes in the middle." We had record rain and record warmth, but fewer days of the "kill-you" heat that 2024 delivered. It’s a reminder that the desert is changing, and the old weather almanacs are mostly good for starting campfires at this point.

Next Steps for Your Trip:
Check the 10-day forecast exactly 48 hours before you fly. In 2025, the shifts happened fast. Also, if you’re heading to Red Rock or Lake Mead, keep an eye on the flash flood alerts—even if the sky above the Caesars Palace looks clear. That water travels from the mountains faster than you’d think.