Las Vegas Weather: Essential 4th of July Guide

Introduction

4th of July celebrations in Las Vegas are a very busy time. This year though, the 4th falls on a Tuesday and will likely not be quite as bad as having it on a weekend. Still, the weather is an important factor in holiday activities. The 4th occurs in the middle of summer and in the warmest month of the year so you can expect the weather to be hot, that’s guaranteed. But how hot? In this blog post I’ll explore the highs, lows, and typical weather of Independence Day - the 4th of July.

For more information about July overall - check out my post covering the entire month.

4th of July is quite a spectacle in Las Vegas.

Normal Temperatures

A typical 4th of July is hot as you would expect in Las Vegas in July. The average high temperature is 104F/40C which is not quite the highest you can get, but close. The highest average temperature is 105F/40C and that starts on the 10th of July and lasts several weeks. Overnight temperatures drop to around 81F/27C typically. In the last 86 years there has only been measurable rain four times on the 4th of July and a handful of times it rained but wasn’t enough to measure.

The most important part of the holiday is of course the fireworks show over the city. This starts around 9 pm after sunset which is good because it keeps people from standing in the sun. Temperatures typically start falling from the day’s heat after 5 pm. Last years high was 102F and by 9 pm it had dropped to 96F. This is still pretty hot for most people, especially those not accustomed to the heat. If you’re out in the evening to watch the fireworks show, make sure to still hydrate and consider the heat. Alcohol also contributes to dehydration and heat related illness.

Extreme Temperatures

Extreme heat does occasionally occur on the 4th. Nearly 20% of all days since 1937 have hit 110F/43C or better but most of these were pre year 2000. 2013 was the last time and it hit 113F/44C. The highest ever recorded was 115F/45C in 1985 which means by the time fireworks started it was probably just under 110F/43C.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are not an cold days, just less hot. Only one time in history did it fail to get to 90F/32C and that was way back in 1949 when it only reached 89F/32C. This is the lowest high temperature for the 4th. More recently, in 2011 and 2012 it only got to 94F/34C and 93F/C respectively. These are also the second and third lowest highs for the date.

Precipitation

Would you believe it has only rained four times on the 4th of July? Five additional times it rained but wasn’t enough to measure. The record rain obviously coincides with the lowest high temperature recorded in 1949 - 0.16” of rain fell on that day and the high only got to 89D/32C as I said previously. More recently, 2014 and 2012 recorded the second and third highest amounts of rain, though both were less than a tenth of an inch.

Here is the last 10 years worth of data:

High, low, and precipitation for the last 10 years

Conclusion

Betting on the 4th of July being hot and dry in Las Vegas is a layup. You can count on one hand the number of times it has rained. And only once has the high been less than 90F/32C. So take precautions if it one of the hotter years. The sun goes down around 8 pm and temperatures drop some, but expect very hot weather still for the fireworks show. If you’re drinking alcohol, becoming dehydrated happens quicker so keep that in mind.