A Few Grains of Sand

Yes, Las Vegas had a dust storm on July 1-2, 2025. No, it did not affect us. We live in Sun City Summerlin, about 20 minutes northwest of the glitzy (and very crowded) Strip. This dust storm primarily affected the lower valley area, where our reporting climate station is the Harry Reid Airport.

When TV folks mention summer high temperatures, you'll often hear sizzling numbers from Las Vegas. Those are about four degrees higher than the temperatures at our elevation in Sun City, of about 2,900 feet. It's also very dry in Las Vegas, as in 5% humidity during the summer months. So, 100-degree temps do not feel all that hot. In fact, you might equate 100 degrees where we are to about 80 degrees in locales with high humidity, like St. Petersburg, Florida, which has 75% to 90% humidity on many summer days. When exploring retirement destinations, Bill and I spent two summer months in Saint Pete. Even though the highest temps were "only" 90 degrees, it was so humid there, I could not breathe.

Las Vegas is Cooler Longer Than It Is Hot

Another misunderstood fact about Las Vegas weather is that it is cooler/colder here far longer than it is hot. From November through March, you're gonna need to bundle up. That was the big shock we had after living in Hawai‘i for three years. We landed in Vegas at the first of November, and within a month, I had to buy all sorts of sweatpants, socks, and flannel PJs to help me endure what were unexpectedly (to me) cold temperatures.

So Far, No Dust at our House

Knock wood, but we have not had any dust or dust storms blow our way in Sun City, which is a relief after living in Waikoloa, Hawai‘i, where winds of 35 miles per hour would generate gigantic red dust clouds that blew our way. You never knew when this would happen. You'd walk outside to retrieve your trash can, realize there was what I called "A Blow," and you'd see your trash can tumble downhill into your neighbor's yard. I still have some red dust of Waikoloa in one of my front door mats. I would shake it out, except I want to keep it for sentimental mojo.

A Painful Grain of Sand

Long ago, I experienced a Las Vegas dust storm, and they are pretty scary. When vacationing with my daughter Reed Livingston Bates, we drove into Vegas from the Grand Canyon and landed smack-dab in the middle of a gigantic dust whirl. We couldn't see two feet in front of us, so we had to pull over until the darn thing stopped.

Eventually, we made it safely to the then brand-new Luxor Hotel, but a grain of sand had lodged in my right eye's tear duct and caused all sorts of irritation and tears. How in the world can one grain of sand cause such pain? Thankfully, a bottle of eye drops flushed the little bugger out, and I was able to see again, especially since we had tickets to see the Blue Man Group for the first time.

Bottom line: Whenever you hear those sizzling Las Vegas temps on the TV, just remember that our hot-hot months are only July and August. Other than that, it's cooler here far longer than it is hot. And, you'll need warm clothes from November through March.