Las Vegas Weather in December 2024: What Most People Get Wrong

If you walked down the Strip last December thinking you’d just need a light hoodie and some vibes, you probably ended up buying a $60 souvenir fleece by the time you hit the Bellagio fountains. Honestly, everyone thinks of the desert as this eternal furnace, but las vegas weather in december 2024 was a reminder that the Mojave doesn't play by the rules when the sun goes down.

It was a weird month.

While the world remembers 2024 as a year of record-breaking heat—and yeah, Vegas hit that insane 120°F mark back in July—December was a totally different beast. It wasn't just "chilly." It was "I can see my breath while waiting for an Uber" cold. If you were there, you've probably got memories of shivering through the New Year's Eve countdown or realizing that desert wind hits differently when it's 40 degrees.

The Reality of the December Chill

Most people looking into the las vegas weather in december 2024 expect a dry, mild winter. And sure, on paper, the averages look fine. But the National Weather Service records from Harry Reid International show that we were dealing with some seriously crisp air.

Daily highs mostly hovered in the mid-50s to low 60s. On December 20, for instance, the high was a respectable 60°F. Sounds okay, right? Wrong. Because the low that same morning was 47°F, and by the time the sun set at 4:30 PM, the temperature plummeted. In the desert, there's no humidity to hold onto the heat. Once that sun dips behind the Spring Mountains, the heat just... vanishes.

Basically, you spent your days in a t-shirt and your nights looking for a parka.

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The average wind speed sat around 4.1 mph, which sounds like nothing until you look at the spikes. On December 3, we saw gusts hitting 42 mph. Imagine walking between casinos with a 40-mile-per-hour wind tunnel effect created by the massive hotels. It’s not just cold; it’s abrasive.

Rain? In the Desert?

People always ask if it rains in Vegas during the winter. For December 2024, the answer was "barely, but it counted." We saw about 0.45 inches of precipitation for the month. That doesn't sound like much until you realize the historical average for December is often lower.

We actually had a couple of days where the sky stayed gray and "cloudy" (about 6 days total were classified as full-on cloudy). It gives the Strip a weird, cinematic look—all those neon lights reflecting off damp pavement and a moody sky. It’s a vibe, but it’s a cold one.

What Really Happened With the Temperature Swings

The biggest misconception about las vegas weather in december 2024 is that it’s consistent. It’s not. It’s bipolar.

One day you’re at 68°F (which happened early in the month), feeling like spring has arrived early. Two days later, a cold front moves through, the wind picks up from the north, and you’re struggling to reach 52°F.

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• Highest Temp: 68°F
• Lowest Temp: 36°F (recorded toward the end of the month)
• Average High: 54.8°F
• Average Low: 45.6°F

You’ve got to understand the "Heat Island Effect" too. If you’re staying at a place like the Wynn or Caesars, the concrete and lights keep the immediate area a few degrees warmer than the outskirts. If you headed out to Red Rock Canyon or Summerlin last December, you were looking at temperatures often 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the Strip.

I know a guy who went hiking at Red Rock in mid-December thinking it’d be perfect. He ended up hitting a patch of "blowing widespread dust" on the 29th and nearly got frostbite because he didn't check the mountain forecast. The Strip is a bubble; the rest of the valley is the real desert.

The Wind Factor

Let’s talk about that wind again because it’s the secret villain of Vegas winters.

In December 2024, the wind mostly came from the North/Northwest. When that air moves down from the snowy peaks of Utah and Northern Nevada, it doesn't matter if the sun is out. It cuts through denim. If you were planning to hit a "heated" outdoor pool—most of them close anyway, but some stay open—that wind makes getting out of the water a traumatic experience.

Packing for the Vegas "Winter"

If you were there, you learned the hard way. If you’re looking back at the data to plan a future trip, take note.

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Layering isn't a suggestion; it's a survival strategy. Kinda like how you handle a long flight. You need a base layer for the 70-degree casinos (because they blast the AC even in winter) and a heavy outer layer for the 40-degree sidewalks.

Honestly, the best move for December weather is a "puffer" vest or a light down jacket that compresses. You’ll be taking it off and putting it back on 50 times a day as you move from the slots to the street.

Actionable Insights for Winter Travelers

Knowing the stats for las vegas weather in december 2024 helps you prepare for the next cycle. Here is what you actually need to do:

• Check the Lows, Not the Highs: The "High" usually only lasts for two hours (between 1 PM and 3 PM). The "Low" is what you’ll be living in for the dinner and show hours.
• Lip Balm is Mandatory: The combination of 40-degree air and 20% humidity (the average humidity was around 43%, but dropped significantly during the day) will wreck your skin.
• Sunscreen Still Matters: Even when it was 55°F in December 2024, the UV index hit 2 or 3 during the day. The sun is intense at this altitude, and you can still get a "cold burn."
• Watch the Wind Forecast: Anything over 15 mph means the "feels like" temperature is going to be about 10 degrees lower than the thermostat says.

The desert in winter is beautiful—the air is the clearest it’ll be all year, and the mountains usually have a dusting of snow—but it’s not the poolside paradise people imagine. December 2024 proved that if you come prepared for the cold, you'll have a blast. If you don't? Well, the gift shops are happy to take your money for that overpriced sweater.