Nevadaβs reputation is a wild one, but so is its weather. Itβs also one of the countryβs largest states, with elevations that range from under 500 feet above sea level to snow-capped peaks cracking 13,000 feet, with 100,000-ish square miles of high and low desert, forested basins, and plenty of other climate zones in between. Basically, it ainβt all hot Vegas nights and rattlesnakes slithering over sand dunes. Let us show you how to navigate the weather around hereβone season at a time.
Seasons in Nevada
Nevada Weather: Hereβs What to Pack
Pack Your Parkas AND Your Trunks
Although Nevada is one of the driest states, the sky dumps plenty of rain and snow into our many wild rivers, alpine lakes, and powder-packed mountain slopesβand thatβs not just Nevada in winter. Nevada summers can dazzle you with some of the clearest, darkest, star-studded skies or surprise you with a refreshing shower. Our weather gods always deliver.
What to Pack? Here’s What We’d Suggest:
- Base Layersβtanks, t-shirt, shorts, and leggings or thermals
- Jeans or pants, rain jacket, down jacket, gloves and a hat
- Hiking boot or tennis shoeβwhether youβre strolling the Strip or getting into the backcountry, something comfy enough to support your daylong endeavors while protecting your feet
- Some kind of shoe that can get wet and protect your toes (think hot springs or muddy roads circumstances) is key. Chacos, Tevas or Crocs always seem to get the job done.
- Sunscreen, chapstick, a billed hat and bandanna
- Swimsuit
Lucky for you, traveler, what that means is thereβs really no such thing as a best season to visit Nevada. Any time you visit is sure to be extraordinary. Even in our deserts, there are four seasons in Nevada. Sure, there are some hot, dry desertscapesβand theyβre stunning. But depending where else you wander, Nevada in spring means you may wind up face to face with a stunning wildflower bloom and fall in Nevada promises an explosion of fall foliage that would leave a New Englander stupefied.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
So⦠What is the Weather in Nevada?
Tips and Tricks for Mastering High and Low Desert Climates
You know all those places that think βtheirβ local saying is βYou donβt like the weather? Wait 15 minutes!β Yep, weβre one of those. So what is the climate in Nevada, exactly? In a state spanning more than 100,000 square miles, weather conditions in Nevada change as often as the terrain surrounding you does. Making sure youβve got the right gear is one thing, being aware of weather hazards and how they may shape your time in Nevada is another.
Tips and Tricks
Get your packing list dialed in, and make sure some basic safety tools are on itβlike a paper map or an atlas, extra water supply, tire patch kit, and understanding of cell coverageβin case an unpredictable weather pattern moves your way. After all, one of the reasons we love Nevada so much is because itβs still so wild; itβs just good to know how to navigate inclement weather like a pro. Also, if youβre headed into rural Nevada, itβs always a good idea to let someone know where youβre headed, and when you plan to return, too. (Basically, just call your mom.)
Look ahead at forecast or even doppler radars, and make sure you know before you go by mapping out where youβre headed, how to navigate within each city, and how to connect from point A to Bβespecially during crazy Nevada weather.
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