Editing Las Vegas (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Las Vegas at Night.JPG|thumb|Astronaut photograph of Las Vegas at night]]
[[File:Las Vegas from Frenchman 3.jpg|thumb|left|[[Downtown Las Vegas]] with [[Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area|Red Rock Canyon]] in the background]]Las Vegas is situated in a [[Basin and range topography|basin]] on the floor of the [[Mojave Desert]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://geography.about.com/od/unitedstatesofamerica/a/lasvegasgeography.htm |title=Geography of Las Vegas, Nevada |publisher=geography.about.com |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-date=April 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140412230717/http://geography.about.com/od/unitedstatesofamerica/a/lasvegasgeography.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is surrounded by mountain ranges. Much of the landscape is rocky and arid, with desert vegetation and wildlife. It can be subjected to torrential flash floods, although much has been done to mitigate the effects of flash floods through improved drainage systems.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/flood-control-a-success/ |title=Flood control a success |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=December 28, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2014 |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501072545/https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/flood-control-a-success/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city's elevation is approximately {{convert|2030|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, though the surrounding peaks reach elevations of over {{convert|10000|ft}} and act as barriers to the strong flow of moisture from the surrounding area. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has an area of {{convert|135.86|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|135.81|sqmi|abbr=on}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.03%) is water.

After Alaska and California, Nevada is the third most seismically active state in the U.S. It has been estimated by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) that over the next 50 years, there is a 10–20% chance of an M6.0 or greater earthquake occurring within {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} of Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://data.nbmg.unr.edu/Public/freedownloads/misc/Presentations/earthquakes/lossestimationmodeling23feb06.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910054050/http://data.nbmg.unr.edu/Public/freedownloads/misc/Presentations/earthquakes/lossestimationmodeling23feb06.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |url-status=live |title=Loss-Estimation Modeling of Earthquake Scenarios for Each County in Nevada Using HAZUS-MH |page=65 |date=February 23, 2006 |website=Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology |publisher=Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology/University of Nevada, Reno |access-date=March 27, 2016 |quote="Probability of an earthquake of magnitude 6.0 or greater occurring within 50 km in 50 years (from USGS probabilistic seismic hazard analysis) 10–20% chance for Las Vegas area, magnitude 6". }}</ref>

Within the city are many lawns, trees, and other greenery. Due to water resource issues, there has been a movement to encourage [[Xeriscaping|xeriscapes]]. Another part of conservation efforts is scheduled watering days for residential landscaping. A [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]] grant in 2008 funded a program that analyzed and forecast growth and environmental effects through 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 6, 2015 |title=Las Vegas Xeriscaping & Desert Landscaping Tips - Modern Landscape Las Vegas |url=https://www.modernlandscapelasvegas.com/las-vegas-xeriscaping-tips/ |access-date=August 15, 2024 |language=en-US }}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:Majestic Mountain (3841029921).jpg|thumb|Desert scene at the [[Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area]] in the Las Vegas area]]
[[File:Spring Flowers in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.jpg|thumb|Spring flowers at the [[Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area]] in the Las Vegas area]]
Las Vegas has a [[subtropical climate|subtropical]] [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''BWh'', [[Trewartha climate classification]] ''BWhk''), typical of the [[Mojave Desert]] in which it lies. This climate is typified by long, extremely hot summers; warm transitional seasons; and short winters with mild days and cool nights. There is abundant sunshine throughout the year, with an average of 310 sunny days and bright sunshine during 86% of all daylight hours.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr"/><ref name= noaasun/> Rainfall is scarce, with an average of {{convert|4.2|in|abbr=on}} dispersed between roughly 26 total rainy days per year.<ref name = "NCEI Summary of Monthly Normals - 1991-2020"/> Las Vegas is among the sunniest, driest, and least humid locations in North America, with exceptionally low dew points and humidity that sometimes remains below 10%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/low-humidity-cities.php |title=Cities With Low Humidity in the USA |last=Osborn |first=Liz |website=Current Results |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-date=October 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019000628/https://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/low-humidity-cities.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

The summer months of June through September are extremely hot, though moderated by the low humidity levels. July is the hottest month, with an average daytime high of {{convert|104.5|°F|1}}. On average, 137 days per year reach or exceed {{convert|90|°F}}, of which 78 days reach {{convert|100|°F|0}} and 10 days reach {{convert|110|°F|0}}. During the peak intensity of summer, overnight lows frequently remain above {{convert|80|°F|0}}, and occasionally above {{convert|85|°F|0}}.<ref name="NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr" />

While most summer days are consistently hot, dry, and cloudless, the [[North American Monsoon]] sporadically interrupts this pattern and brings more cloud cover, thunderstorms, lightning, increased humidity, and brief spells of heavy rain. Potential monsoons affect Las Vegas between July and August. Summer in Las Vegas is marked by significant [[diurnal temperature variation]]. While less extreme than other parts of the state, nighttime lows in Las Vegas are often {{convert|30|F-change|1}} or more lower than daytime highs.<ref>{{cite thesis |title=Observed and Simulated Urban Heat Island and Urban Cool Island in Las Vegas |url=https://scholarworks.unr.edu/bitstream/handle/11714/2409/Sauceda_unr_0139M_11689.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |first=Daniel O. |last=Sauceda |date=December 2014 |publisher=[[University of Nevada, Reno]] |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113062612/https://scholarworks.unr.edu/bitstream/handle/11714/2409/Sauceda_unr_0139M_11689.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The average hottest night of the year is {{convert|90|F|C}}. The all-time record is at {{convert|95|F|C}}.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr"/>

Las Vegas winters are relatively short, with typically mild daytime temperatures and chilly nights. Sunshine is abundant in all seasons. December is both the year's coolest and cloudiest month, with an average daytime high of {{convert|56.9|°F|1}} and sunshine occurring during 78% of its daylight hours. Winter evenings are defined by clear skies and swift drops in temperature after sunset, with overnight minima averaging around {{convert|40|°F|1}} in December and January. Owing to its elevation that ranges from {{convert|2,000|to|3,000|ft}}, Las Vegas experiences markedly cooler winters than other areas of the [[Mojave Desert]] and the adjacent [[Sonoran Desert]] that are closer to sea level. The city records freezing temperatures an average of 10 nights per winter. It is exceptionally rare for temperatures to reach or fall below {{convert|25|°F|0}}.<ref name = "NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr"/>

[[File:Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) - Las Vegas Area, NV(ThreadEx).svg|thumb|right|Climate chart for Las Vegas]]
Most of the annual precipitation falls during the winter. February, the wettest month, averages only four days of measurable rain. The mountains immediately surrounding the Las Vegas Valley accumulate snow every winter, but significant accumulation within the city is rare, although moderate accumulations occur every few years. The most recent accumulations occurred on February 18, 2019, when parts of the city received about {{convert|1 to 2|in|cm|1}} of snow<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-vegas-snow-20190218-story.html |title=It just snowed in Vegas and likely will again this week. That isn't normal |first=David |last=Montero |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221044539/https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-vegas-snow-20190218-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and on February 20 when the city received almost {{convert|0.5|in|cm|1}}.<ref>{{cite tweet |date=February 21, 2019 |user=NWSVegas |number=1098504698393513985 |title=Las Vegas official snowfall for Feb 20th is 0.5 inches. This breaks a daily snowfall record for this date |author=NWS Las Vegas |access-date=July 20, 2019 }}</ref> Other recent significant snow accumulations occurred on December 25, 2015, and December 17, 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/weather/las-vegas-valley-gets-first-touch-of-white-winter |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |last=Michor |first=Max |title=Las Vegas Valley gets first touch of white winter |date=February 23, 2018 |access-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-date=October 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007215751/https://www.reviewjournal.com/weather/las-vegas-valley-gets-first-touch-of-white-winter/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Unofficially, Las Vegas's largest snowfall on record was the {{convert|12|in|cm}} that fell in 1909.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/aug/26/snowstorms/ |last=Hansen |first=Kyle B. |date=August 26, 2011 |title=Photos: Remembering snowstorms in Las Vegas offers retreat from the heat |newspaper=[[Las Vegas Sun]] |access-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-date=July 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720235312/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2011/aug/26/snowstorms/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In recent times, ice days have not occurred, although {{convert|29|F|C}} was measured in 1963.<ref name="NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr" /> On average the coldest day is {{convert|44|F|C}}.<ref name="NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr" />

The highest temperature officially observed for Las Vegas is {{convert|120|F|C|1}}, as measured at [[Harry Reid International Airport]] on July 7, 2024.<ref name="NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr"/><ref>{{Cite tweet |author=National Weather Service Las Vegas |title=Well, it managed to hit 120° at Harry Reid Airport. #nvwx |user=NWSVegas |number=1810086398898401665 |access-date=July 8, 2024 }}</ref> The lowest temperature was {{convert|8|°F|0}}, recorded on two days: January 25, 1937, and January 13, 1963.<ref name="NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr"/> The official record hot daily minimum is {{convert|95|°F|0}} on July 19, 2005, and July 1, 2013. The official record cold daily maximum is {{convert|28|°F|0}} on January 8 and 21, 1937.<ref name="NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr"/> July 2024 was the hottest month ever recorded in Las Vegas, with its highest recorded mean daily average temperature over the month of {{convert|99.9|°F|0}}, its highest recorded mean daily maximum temperature of {{convert|111.5|°F|0}}, and its highest recorded mean nightly minimum temperature of {{convert|88.3|°F|0}}.<ref name=LasVegasHottestMonthEver>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=vef |title=Almanac for Las Vegas Area, NV (ThreadEx) - July 31, 2024 |publisher=[[National Weather Service]] |date=August 1, 2024 |access-date=August 2, 2024 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616180404/https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=vef |url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to concerns about [[Climate change in the United States|climate change]] in the wake of a 2002 drought, daily water consumption has been reduced from {{convert|314|USgal|L}} per resident in 2003 to around {{convert|205|USgal|L}} in 2015.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://projects.propublica.org/killing-the-colorado/story/pat-mulroy-las-vegas-water-witch |title=Las Vegas Water Chief Pat Mulroy Preached Conservation, But Pushed Growth |last=Lustgarten |first=Abrahm |date=June 2, 2015 |website=[[ProPublica]] |language=en |access-date=November 18, 2019 |archive-date=June 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602192635/https://projects.propublica.org/killing-the-colorado/story/pat-mulroy-las-vegas-water-witch |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = [[Harry Reid International Airport]] ([[Paradise, Nevada]]), 1991–2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.}} extremes 1937–present
| single line = Y
| collapsed =
| Jan record high F = 77
| Feb record high F = 87
| Mar record high F = 92
| Apr record high F = 99
| May record high F = 109
| Jun record high F = 117
| Jul record high F = 120
| Aug record high F = 116
| Sep record high F = 114
| Oct record high F = 104
| Nov record high F = 87
| Dec record high F = 78
| Jan avg record high F = 68.7
| Feb avg record high F = 74.2
| Mar avg record high F = 84.3
| Apr avg record high F = 93.6
| May avg record high F = 101.8
| Jun avg record high F = 110.1
| Jul avg record high F = 112.9
| Aug avg record high F = 110.3
| Sep avg record high F = 105.0
| Oct avg record high F = 94.6
| Nov avg record high F = 80.5
| Dec avg record high F = 67.9
| year avg record high F = 113.6
| Jan high F = 58.5
| Feb high F = 62.9
| Mar high F = 71.1
| Apr high F = 78.5
| May high F = 88.5
| Jun high F = 99.4
| Jul high F = 104.5
| Aug high F = 102.8
| Sep high F = 94.9
| Oct high F = 81.2
| Nov high F = 67.1
| Dec high F = 56.9
| year high F = 80.5
| Jan mean F = 49.5
| Feb mean F = 53.5
| Mar mean F = 60.8
| Apr mean F = 67.7
| May mean F = 77.3
| Jun mean F = 87.6
| Jul mean F = 93.2
| Aug mean F = 91.7
| Sep mean F = 83.6
| Oct mean F = 70.4
| Nov mean F = 57.2
| Dec mean F = 48.2
| year mean F = 70.1
| Jan low F = 40.5
| Feb low F = 44.1
| Mar low F = 50.5
| Apr low F = 56.9
| May low F = 66.1
| Jun low F = 75.8
| Jul low F = 82.0
| Aug low F = 80.6
| Sep low F = 72.4
| Oct low F = 59.6
| Nov low F = 47.3
| Dec low F = 39.6
| year low F = 59.6
| Jan avg record low F = 29.8
| Feb avg record low F = 32.9
| Mar avg record low F = 38.7
| Apr avg record low F = 45.2
| May avg record low F = 52.8
| Jun avg record low F = 62.2
| Jul avg record low F = 72.9
| Aug avg record low F = 70.8
| Sep avg record low F = 60.8
| Oct avg record low F = 47.4
| Nov avg record low F = 35.2
| Dec avg record low F = 29.0
| year avg record low F = 27.4
| Jan record low F = 8
| Feb record low F = 16
| Mar record low F = 19
| Apr record low F = 31
| May record low F = 38
| Jun record low F = 48
| Jul record low F = 56
| Aug record low F = 54
| Sep record low F = 43
| Oct record low F = 26
| Nov record low F = 15
| Dec record low F = 11
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 0.56
| Feb precipitation inch = 0.80
| Mar precipitation inch = 0.42
| Apr precipitation inch = 0.20
| May precipitation inch = 0.07
| Jun precipitation inch = 0.04
| Jul precipitation inch = 0.38
| Aug precipitation inch = 0.32
| Sep precipitation inch = 0.32
| Oct precipitation inch = 0.32
| Nov precipitation inch = 0.30
| Dec precipitation inch = 0.45
| year precipitation inch = 4.18
| Jan snow inch = 0.0
| Feb snow inch = 0.0
| Mar snow inch = 0.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.0
| Dec snow inch = 0.2
| year snow inch = 0.2
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 3.1
| Feb precipitation days = 4.1
| Mar precipitation days = 2.8
| Apr precipitation days = 1.6
| May precipitation days = 1.1
| Jun precipitation days = 0.4
| Jul precipitation days = 2.5
| Aug precipitation days = 2.2
| Sep precipitation days = 1.8
| Oct precipitation days = 1.7
| Nov precipitation days = 1.5
| Dec precipitation days = 3.0
| year precipitation days = 25.8
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.0
| Feb snow days = 0.1
| Mar snow days = 0.0
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.0
| Dec snow days = 0.1
| year snow days = 0.2
| Jan sun = 245.2
| Jan percentsun = 79
| Feb sun = 246.7
| Feb percentsun = 81
| Mar sun = 314.6
| Mar percentsun = 85
| Apr sun = 346.1
| Apr percentsun = 88
| May sun = 388.1
| May percentsun = 89
| Jun sun = 401.7
| Jun percentsun = 92
| Jul sun = 390.9
| Jul percentsun = 88
| Aug sun = 368.5
| Aug percentsun = 88
| Sep sun = 337.1
| Sep percentsun = 91
| Oct sun = 304.4
| Oct percentsun = 87
| Nov sun = 246.0
| Nov percentsun = 80
| Dec sun = 236.0
| Dec percentsun = 78
| year percentsun = 86
| humidity colour =
| Jan humidity = 45.1
| Feb humidity = 39.6
| Mar humidity = 33.1
| Apr humidity = 25.0
| May humidity = 21.3
| Jun humidity = 16.5
| Jul humidity = 21.1
| Aug humidity = 25.6
| Sep humidity = 25.0
| Oct humidity = 28.8
| Nov humidity = 37.2
| Dec humidity = 45.0
| year humidity = 30.3
| Jan dew point C = −5.5
| Feb dew point C = −4.6
| Mar dew point C = −4.5
| Apr dew point C = −4.4
| May dew point C = −2.1
| Jun dew point C = −0.6
| Jul dew point C = 4.8
| Aug dew point C = 6.7
| Sep dew point C = 2.8
| Oct dew point C = −0.9
| Nov dew point C = −3.7
| Dec dew point C = −5.4
| source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity, dew point and sun 1961–1990)<ref name = "NOWData NWS Las Vegas, NV (VEF) - LASthr">{{cite web |url=https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=vef |title=NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-date=July 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721064827/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=vef |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NCEI Summary of Monthly Normals - 1991-2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023169&format=pdf |title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803055042/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00023169&format=pdf |archive-date=August 3, 2023 }}</ref><ref name= noaasun >{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT |title=WMO Climate Normals for LAS VEGAS/MCCARRAN, NV 1961–1990 |access-date=October 11, 2021 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803055030/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72386.TXT |archive-date=August 3, 2023 }}</ref>
| source =
}}
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Las Vegas.tab
| title=Las Vegas monthly weather statistics
}}

===Nearby communities===
[[File:SummerlinEntrance.jpg|thumb|The entrance to the community of [[Summerlin]]]]
* [[Boulder City, Nevada|Boulder City]], incorporated
* [[Enterprise, Nevada|Enterprise]], unincorporated
* [[Henderson, Nevada|Henderson]], incorporated
* [[Lone Mountain, Nevada|Lone Mountain]], unincorporated
* [[North Las Vegas, Nevada|North Las Vegas]], incorporated
* [[Paradise, Nevada|Paradise]], unincorporated
* [[Spring Valley, Nevada|Spring Valley]], unincorporated
* [[Summerlin South, Nevada|Summerlin South]], unincorporated
* [[Sunrise Manor, Nevada|Sunrise Manor]], unincorporated
* [[Whitney, Nevada|Whitney]], unincorporated
* [[Winchester, Nevada|Winchester]], unincorporated

===Neighborhoods===
* [[Downtown Las Vegas|Downtown]]
* [[The Lakes, Las Vegas|The Lakes]]
* [[Summerlin, Nevada|Summerlin]]
* [[West Las Vegas]]