Does it snow in Nevada?

Known as The Silver State, The Sagebrush State, and The Battle Born State, the state of Nevada, the 7th-largest by area and the 32nd- most populous in the U.S states, stands as one of the leading tourist destinations around the world.

Unlike most states in the U.S, the enormous tourist attraction of Nevada lies not only in its national parks but in the hidden gem of Clark County: Las Vegas, one of the most famous recreational cities in the whole world.

Despite being the 7th-largest state by area in the U.S., the population density of Nevada is incredibly low (26.8/sq mi). Almost 75% of Nevadans live in Clark County, while the other 25% is shared between the other 15 counties and Carson City.

Oddly enough, Las Vegas is not the capital of Nevada. Indeed, the independent city of Carson City is. Las Vegas only holds the title of the largest city in Nevada.

While the entertainment and nightlife of Las Vegas seem to dwarf all other tourist destinations in Nevada, this state has much more to offer than the jewel of Clark County. From the majestic Great Basin National Park, the Red Rock Canyon, the Lake Mead National Recreational Area, the Black Rock Desert to the beautiful Valley of Fire State Park await you in Nevada.

Index

    Snow in Nevada? ❄

    Does it snow in Nevada? The short answer is yes!

    Despite being considered one of the driest states in the United States, due to its vast stretches of miles of desert and semi-arid terrain, Nevada is not exactly a hot place. Oddly enough, the average summer temperature of Nevada is around 22°C, except for the Las Vegas Valley: the hottest area in Nevada.

    Snow in Kingsbury (Nevada)
    Snow in Kingsbury (Nevada). Flickr.

    Occasionally, the mountains lining the Las Vegas Valley receive light snowfall: an unusual phenomenon in the history of Clark County.

    In this sense, snowfall is not an unusual weather phenomenon in Nevada. Indeed, the snow was the main element that European settlers associated with this region, hence its name Nevada (snowy in Spanish.)

    Thus, answering the question at hand. Yes! It snows in Nevada, especially in Storey, Douglas, Washoe, White Pine, and Elko County (including Carson City.)

    The climate of Nevada ⛅

    NEVADA WEATHER

    According to the Köppen climate classification, counting types and subtypes, Nevada exhibits up to 15 climate types throughout its territory, from Hot desert (BWh) to Tundra (Et).

    Koppen Climate Types Nevada

    Due to such diversity, any general explication of the characteristics of Nevada's climate is useless since these aspects will depend exclusively on the prevailing climatological factors in each of the Nevada regions.

    MAP of NEVADA

    Technical characteristics

    Some of the following technical characteristics have been calculated by averaging climatological data for the seventeen county seats of Nevada (including Carson City).

    • Climate types (Köppen climate classification):
      • Hot Desert (BWh).
      • Cold Desert (BWk).
      • Hot semi-arid (BSh).
      • Cold semi-arid (BSk).
      • Hot-summer mediterranean (Csa).
      • Warm-summer mediterranean (Csb).
      • Cold-summer mediterranean (Csc).
      • Humid subtropical (Cfa).
      • Oceanic (Cfb).
      • Warm-summer mediterranean continental (Dsb).
      • Dry-summer subarctic (Dsc).
      • Hot-summer humid continental (Dfa).
      • Warm-summer humid continental (Dfb).
      • Subarctic (Dfc).
      • Tundra (Et).
    • Average maximum temperatures in summer: 85.66 °F (29.8 °C).
    • Average maximum temperatures in winter: 51.79 °F (11 °C).
    • Average minimum temperature in summer: 48.10 °F (8.9 °C).
    • Average minimum temperatures in winter: 25.44 °F (-3.6 °C).
    • Average annual rainfall: 7 inches (17.78 cm).
    • Hottest county: Clark County.
    • Highest record temperature: 125 °F / 51.6 °C (June 29, 1994. Laughlin, Clark County.)
    • Coldest county: Elko and White Pine County.
    • Lowest record temperature: -50 °F / -45.5 °C (January 8, 1937. San Jacinto, Elko County.)
    • Snowiest month: January.
    • Coldest month: December/January.

    When does it snow in Nevada? 🌨

    Does it snow in Nevada in September?

    Yes, it might snow in September. Although hopefully, only in Storey, White Pine, Eureka counties, and Carson City.

    Does it snow in Nevada in October?

    Yes, it might snow in October. From this month, light snowfall is possible in 13 of Nevada's 17 counties (including Carson City).

    Does it snow in Nevada in November?

    Yes, it does! November is indeed a very snowy month. For example, Virginia City (Storey County) exceeds 3.5 inches of snow accumulation (on average), while the rest of the counties exhibit snow layers equal to or greater than half an inch.

    Does it snow in Nevada in December?

    Yes, it does! Once winter begins, snowfalls are heavier in the far eastern (Washoe, Storey, Douglas, and Carson City) and western (Elko, White Pine, and Eureka) Nevada counties.

    Some cities of Nevada have had the good fortune to experience a White Christmas. Reno, to cite an example, had a White Christmas in 2012.

    Does it snow in Nevada in January?

    Yes, it does! January is the snowiest month in Nevada. Snowfall this month easily exceeds an inch of accumulation on average in all Nevada counties except Clark County.

    Does it snow in Nevada in February?

    Yes, it does! February is the third month with the highest snowfall levels in all of Nevada, so it's no surprise that snowfall easily exceeds an inch of accumulation in more than half of the state's counties.

    Does it snow in Nevada in March?

    Yes, it does! Despite being the last winter month, the average snow accumulation remains above three inches in Carson City, Virginia City (Storey County), Ely (White Pine County), y Eureka (Eureka County).

    Does it snow in Nevada in April?

    Yes, it does! The winter season is still active in the far eastern and western Nevada counties.

    Does it snow in Nevada in May?

    Yes, it might snow in May. Minor snowfall (no more than an inch and a half of accumulation) is still possible in Carson City, Virginia City (Storey County), Elko (Elko County), Ely (White Pine County), and Eureka (Eureka County).

    Where does it snow in Nevada? 🌨

    Below, we present a map of the territorial division of the state of Nevada in which the distribution of snowfall in the sixteen counties and the independent city (Carson City) that make up the state is roughly exemplified:

    Map of the territorial division of the state of Nevada with the distribution of snowfall

    1. In this case, the darker the blue color, the higher the average snow accumulation for the county in its snowiest month (January).
    2. This map is not an exact definition but rather an approximation of the behavior of snowfall in Nevada since only its administrative centers and Carson City are taken into account and not all the cities and towns that make up the county at the time of its creation.

    How much does it snow in Nevada? 🌨

    Next, we expose a comparison chart of the average snow accumulation throughout a sliding 31-day period (centered on the day in question) in the sixteen county seats (including Carson City) of Nevada:

     JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
    Virginia City7,86,841,50,30000,10,73,77,4
    Carson City5,44,12,60,80,10000,10,32,15,3
    Elko4,52,91,71,10,100000,224,7
    Minden4,13,11,90,6000000,21,43,8
    Ely3,743,42,70,90,1000,21,12,13,5
    Eureka3,53,33,22,71,20,1000,10,823,2
    Reno3,52,71,40,4000000,11,13,3
    Pioche2,4210,2000000,10,72,4
    Winnemucca1,910,50,4000000,20,72
    Yerington1,80,80,50,2000000,10,61,8
    Battle Mountain1,710,40,3000000,10,61,6
    Fallon1,50,60,20,1000000,10,61,5
    Tonopah1,50,90,70,2000000,10,61,1
    Goldfield1,40,70,40,10000000,41,1
    Hawthorne1,20,40,10,10000000,30,9
    Lovelock10,40,100000000,40,9
    Las Vegas000000000000

    Comparison chart of the average snow accumulation throughout a sliding 31-day period in Nevada

    The numbers shown in the table above represent inches.

    Related post → Does it snow in United States of America? | Does it snow in Lake Tahoe? | Does it snow in Las Vegas?

    Source → WeatherSpark.

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