Honestly, if you're checking the weather for a trip to the Mojave, you've probably seen the standard "it's a dry heat" line a thousand times. But here is the thing: right now, the temperature in vegas is actually a crisp 68°F. That’s the current reading at Harry Reid International as of Tuesday afternoon, January 13, 2026.
It's sunny. The wind is barely a whisper at 3 mph coming out of the northeast. It feels like one of those perfect "light jacket" days where you can walk the Strip without melting or shivering. But don't let that fool you into thinking the desert is predictable.
Most people pack for the "Vegas" they see in movies—either shimmering heat waves or glitzy indoor AC. They forget that the desert is a drama queen. It swings. Hard.
The Reality of the Desert Swing
You might be basking in that 68°F sun right now, but tonight the floor drops out. We are looking at a low of 42°F. That is a 26-degree shift in just a few hours.
If you’re out at a rooftop bar like the Legacy Club or walking between the fountains at Bellagio after dark, you’re going to feel every bit of that chill. The humidity is sitting at a bone-dry 17% right now. Dry air doesn't hold heat. Once that sun dips behind the Spring Mountains, the warmth just evaporates into the atmosphere.
Basically, the temperature in vegas is two different stories every single day.
What the Rest of the Week Looks Like
If you're hitting town tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14, prepare for a bit of a warmup. The high is hitting 73°F. That’s a gorgeous peak for January, well above the historical average of 58°F.
The rest of the week stays pretty consistent:
- Thursday: High of 67°F, low of 46°F. Still sunny.
- Friday: Ticking down slightly to 66°F.
- The Weekend: Saturday and Sunday will hover in the mid-60s (65°F and 64°F respectively).
It’s actually a stellar window for outdoor stuff. You could hike Red Rock Canyon or check out the Seven Magic Mountains without the usual heat-stroke risk that haunts the summer months.
Why 2025 Changed the Conversation
We can't talk about the temperature in vegas without acknowledging that things have been getting weird lately. Just last year, 2025 went down as the fifth warmest year on record for the city.
The National Weather Service reported an average annual temperature of 71.8°F. That might not sound like much, but it's 1.7 degrees above the "normal" baseline. In July 2024, the city actually shattered its all-time record, hitting a terrifying 120°F.
While we are enjoying a mild 68°F today, the long-term trend is leaning into more extremes. The "Urban Heat Island" effect is a real jerk here. All that asphalt on the Strip and the massive parking lots at the stadiums soak up the sun all day. They spend all night bleeding that heat back out, which is why Vegas nights aren't as cooling as they used to be back in the 70s.
The Monsoon Factor
If you’re planning further out, remember that late summer (July through mid-September) brings the monsoon. This isn't just "hot." It’s humid, electric, and occasionally underwater.
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The temperature in vegas during a monsoon might drop to the 80s, but the humidity spikes, and the flash flood risk becomes the primary concern. In 2025, May actually ended up being the wettest month, which is a bit of a curveball for a city that usually prides itself on being the driest metro area in the US.
Pro Tips for Managing the Temps
- The Layer Rule: If you are visiting this week, you need a hoodie or a medium-weight jacket for the 40-degree nights, even if you’re in a t-shirt at 2:00 PM.
- Hydration is Non-Negotiable: At 17% humidity, your body loses moisture just by breathing. If you're drinking cocktails, double your water intake. Trust me, the "Vegas headache" is usually just dehydration, not just the gin.
- Sunscreen in Winter: The UV index is low (around 2) right now, but at 2,000 feet above sea level, the sun is thinner and more "bitey" than you’d expect.
- Watch the East Side: If you’re staying off-strip towards the east, it usually gets even colder at night. Cold air is heavy; it drains into the lower elevations of the valley like water into a bowl.
The temperature in vegas today is about as good as it gets for January. 73°F tomorrow is basically a gift. Just don't get cocky and leave your jacket in the hotel room when you head out for dinner. You'll regret it by 9:00 PM.
To make the most of this mild weather, prioritize your outdoor walking tours or Valley of Fire excursions between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM when the sun is at its peak. If you're planning a trip for later in the year, keep an eye on the 10-day trends—the desert likes to pivot fast, and a 70-degree week can turn into a 40-degree windstorm before you've even finished your first round at the blackjack table.