Here comes 105: Las Vegas to see hottest days of the year

It’s time to dive into the pools and run into those splash pads. A touch of big summer heat has arrived in Las Vegas.

The valley should see temperatures of 105 degrees or higher today and Friday, the National Weather Service said, likely the hottest days of the year. The valley hit 104 on May 11 and 12.

Las Vegas is experiencing its longest 100-degree streak of the year this week, with temperatures topping the century mark every day through Saturday. It’s “the hottest spell of weather” the valley has experienced since March, when the historic heat dome baked the valley for two weeks, said Chris Outler of the weather agency.

Wednesday’s high was 103 degrees at Harry Reid International Airport; it was 101 on Tuesday. The last time Las Vegas saw a long stretch of 100-plus days was last August.

This week’s heat wave will not break any records, Outler said. And heat advisories/warnings are not expected to be issued.

Cooling stations activated

Clark County said it would activate cooling stations at community centers, libraries and other buildings throughout the valley.

The cooling stations will be open today and Friday, and their hours will vary depending on the location, the county said in a news release. The stations will include several locations in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and Henderson.

The stations are open to anyone in need of respite from the heat, the county said. Additional information can be found at the Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care’s website at helphopehome.org/get-help/, the county said.

Cooler by weekend

By Saturday, temperatures will drop slightly and winds will pick up as a low-pressure system moves into the area, the NWS said. Saturday’s forecast high is 101; it’ll be 98 on Sunday. The average high for early June is 95.

Outler said afternoon breezes will be 15-20 mph on Friday, picking up to 25-30 on Saturday.

Hot across West

In Death Valley National Park in eastern California, temperatures are forecast to reach the 110-115 range this week. The park saw 113 on Wednesday. But no records are expected to be broken.

Phoenix reached 107 on Wednesday, six degrees above normal but six degrees below the 2016 record, the NWS reported on X. Salt Lake City was forecast to reach 86 on Thursday and the low 90s on Friday and Saturday, about 15 degrees above normal.

A high-pressure system over the Southwest is causing the hot stretch, which is “not unusual” for early June, the start of climatological summer, Outler said.

Weather facts

— Las Vegas hit 100 degrees for the first time this year on May 8.

— It hit 98 on March 25 at the airport, the hottest March day ever in Las Vegas. The valley saw eight consecutive days of record-breaking heat that month, the hottest March in history.

— The airport has not seen any measurable rain since Feb. 19 (.08 inches), a rainless streak that has topped 100 days.

— The hottest June temperature recorded in Las Vegas was 117 (June 20, 2017, and June 30, 2013).