In the northeast, the mean annual temperature is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Though the summers in this region are short, they can get hot and the winters are long and cold. The average temperature in the southern portion of the state is approximately 60 degrees Fahrenheit but the it can go well above that in the summer. Las Vegas, for example, has an average high temperature in July of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The western and central sections have an average temperature of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit with short, hot summers and a moderate winter temperature.
Nevada gets an average of 9 inches of precipitation annually, making it the most arid state in the country. The higher elevations generally experience more precipitation. Carson City, for example, receives 10.8 inches of rainfall a year, while Las Vegas gets only 4.2 inches. In the north, snowfall is very common during the winter months and can reach 300 inches or more.
Thunderstorms are not a common occurrence in Nevada according to the National Climactic Data Center. Reno, for example, has 13 a year while Ely is high with 33. While tornadoes can occur, they are rare. According to The Weather Channel, an annual average of .02 tornadoes have been recorded in Las Vegas from 1950 until 2010.
