Las Vegas (Vegas) weather in December
December in Las Vegas: cool, dry, with clean air — a great time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#7 of 12 months in Las Vegas · #654 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 73/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 16°C
- Nights
- 5°C
- Wet days
- 1
- Sun
- 8 h
- Humidity
- 42%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Las Vegas in December
Other months in Las Vegas
Regulars are consistent that the dry heat here is a real, meaningfully different experience than a humid climate at the same temperature - sauna heat rather than steam room heat, with sweat evaporating fast enough that feeling sticky isn't really a problem. Our row backs the dry read directly, 32.1C reading as a real 29C, over 19.5C nights, with rain almost entirely absent, 4.5mm across under a day, and humidity down to a desert-dry 21 percent. Regulars are specific that the first two weeks tend to run more comfortable, with the back half of the month often pushing toward 100 Fahrenheit and nights that stay warmer too as the month wears on. The record: 12.9 hours of sun, a 16.7 kph wind and AQI 64.
February is the month regulars warn is not a pool holiday. Most resort pools are closed for the season; a handful of the big properties keep a heated one open, and if yours is shut you are usually told at check-in which neighbour will have you. Outdoor dining and club terraces are largely closed too, and walking the strip after dark is genuinely unpleasant. Our row shows why: 18C by day reads as 14C, and 6.8C at night reads as 3C, on 40 percent humidity and a dew point of minus 4.9C - desert air keeps nothing after sunset. Rain is 14mm across 1.9 days. The record: 9.4 hours of sun, a 14.4 kph wind and AQI 43.
Regulars describe November here as sunny days and cool, often windy nights, and the numbers are starker than that sounds. Our row gives 20.9C by day but a felt 18C, and 9.1C at night that feels like 5C - a desert November at 34 percent humidity with a dew point of minus 4.1C loses its heat the moment the sun goes. Their verdict on the pools is worth having before booking: mid-November is very iffy even where the water is heated, and several resorts keep only one pool open. Rain is 6.7mm in the month. Take a light layer for the day and a proper coat for the evening. The record: 8.9 hours of sun, a 12.6 kph wind and AQI 38.
March is the month the Las Vegas forum calls the most erratic of the year - 80s one year, struggling out of the 50s the next - with an average high near 70F, an average low near 45F, and a reputation as one of the windier, cloudier months. Wind and cloud together make it feel a good deal cooler than the number suggests. The practical question is the pools: many open by mid-March for spring break, and the realistic expectation for the end of the month is a mix of pool days and days too cool for it. Pack layers and keep an indoor plan. The record: 21.8C days that feel like 18C, 10.3C nights, 2 precipitation days, humidity 36 percent and 10.5 hours of sun.
Year-round notes are on Las Vegas's overview. Add your own note from Las Vegas's card on the map.
Las Vegas climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Las Vegas in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsNational Finals Rodeo, New Year's Eve on the Strip, Winter / Christmas break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Las Vegas's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherLas Vegas's best weather comes in March, April and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Las Vegas in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Red Rock timed entry
1 Oct – 31 MayBook earlyThe scenic drive requires a booked slot for entry between eight and five from October to May, released thirty days ahead. Before eight or after five needs none. Source ↗
- Season
Desert hiking season
15 Oct – 15 Apr · usuallyTrail seasonThe half of the year the canyons work: Red Rock, Valley of Fire and the Mojave within a couple of hours, cool by day and quiet midweek.
- Festival
National Finals Rodeo
3–12 DecSporting eventCrowdedTen nights of rodeo at the Thomas and Mack in early December, which fills the city with a different crowd and books out the off-Strip hotels. Source ↗
- Holiday
New Year's Eve on the Strip
28 Dec – 2 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedClosuresLas Vegas Boulevard shuts to traffic in the evening and several hundred thousand people walk it for the casino-roof fireworks at midnight. The single dearest night of the year for a room. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Las Vegas — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Las Vegas?
Las Vegas in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Las Vegas?
- December in Las Vegas: cool, dry, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Las Vegas on SeasonMap's comfort score (73/100).
- What is the weather like in Las Vegas in December?
- In December, Las Vegas averages a daily high of 15.7°C and a low of 5.3°C, with about 9.6 mm of rain over roughly 1.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Las Vegas in December?
- Las Vegas has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 44 in December.
Within 300 km: Zion National Park's California condors over the canyon on 1 Jan – 31 Dec, and Death Valley National Park's Peak visiting season on 1 Nov – 15 Apr.