Air Quality
Air quality in the Las Vegas Valley is generally moderate, with occasional dust storms and ozone alerts during summer heat.
Monitored days with good air quality
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County, all monitored Nevada counties.
Monitored days unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse
1990–2025U.S. EPA AirData, Annual AQI by County (AQI above 100).
Wildfires
Wildfires mostly affect Nevada's rural sagebrush and forested mountain areas rather than its urban centers, with acreage burned varying widely by year.
Drought
Lake Mead, Nevada's main water reservoir, has fallen to historic lows amid a two-decade megadrought across the Colorado River Basin.
Area in drought (D1–D4), yearly average
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
Area in extreme or exceptional drought (D3–D4)
2000–2025U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC / USDA / NOAA), average of weekly maps.
- •Lake Mead, which supplies most of Las Vegas's water, has dropped to roughly a third of its capacity amid the Colorado River megadrought.
Water Usage
Nevada is the driest state in the country and relies heavily on the drought-stricken Colorado River, holding only a 300,000 acre-foot annual allocation.
- •Nevada is the driest state in the U.S., averaging about 10 inches of precipitation per year.
Emissions
Nevada has one of the lowest per-capita carbon dioxide emissions in the country, thanks to its solar and geothermal power mix and lack of heavy industry.
Energy-related CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, all sectors and fuels (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTTTONVA).
Transportation CO₂ emissions
1970–2021U.S. EIA State Energy Data System, transportation sector (FRED EMISSCO2TOTVTCTONVA).
| Indicator | Nevada | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 emissions per capita (tons) | 9.5 | 14 |
Climate Indicators
Nevada's desert climate produces extreme summer heat, with Las Vegas regularly exceeding 110°F, and increasingly frequent record-breaking heatwaves.
Average annual temperature
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December average.
Annual precipitation
1895–2025NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance, statewide January–December total.
- •Las Vegas set an all-time record high temperature of 117°F in July 2024.