Nevada leads US spring warming; Reno, Las Vegas among fastest-rising

Spring is heating up across Nevada — and sticking around longer than ever.

Over the past 55 years, average spring temperatures in Reno have trended 6.8 degrees warmer, the fastest rise in the United States. Las Vegas ranked third nationally, with spring temperatures trending 6.1 degrees warmer.

Both cities now experience significantly more warmer-than-normal spring days than they did in the 1970s, and the season extends for weeks longer.

That’s according to Climate Central, a nonprofit that analyzes and reports on climate data. The group reviewed spring trends from 1970 to 2024 in 241 U.S. cities and found that 97% have seen spring warm up, with Nevada cities among the fastest-changing.

How much has Reno’s and Las Vegas’ spring have warmed since 1970?

Reno’s spring temperatures have trended 6.8 degrees warmer over the last 55 years — the largest increase of any U.S. city studied. Las Vegas followed closely, ranking third nationwide with a 6.1-degree rise.

Other fast-warming cities include El Paso (6.4 degrees) and Tucson (5.8 degrees). The national average increase among cities with warming springs was 2.4 degrees — meaning Reno and Las Vegas are heating up at nearly three times the national pace.

Are spring conditions lasting longer in Nevada?

Yes — the number of warm spring days has climbed sharply in the Silver State.

In Reno alone, there are now 36 more warmer-than-normal spring days each year compared to the 1970s — the third-largest jump nationally — only behind No. 1 El Paso, Texas' 39 days and Tucson, Arizona's 35 days.

That trend reflects a larger climate shift: Reno’s freeze-free growing season has grown by 96 days since 1970, based on the latest Climate Central analysis. That’s more than 13 additional weeks without freezing temperatures — increasing water demand, fire risks and pressure on local ecosystems.

How does a longer, warmer spring affect wildfire risk?

Hotter temperatures dry out vegetation and soils, making them more likely to ignite. Lower humidity pulls moisture from the landscape, and stronger spring winds accelerate fire spread by carrying embers and drying fuels faster.

In Nevada and across the Southwest, spring fire weather days — when high heat, low humidity and strong winds align — have surged since the 1970s. Some areas now see up to a month more of fire weather conditions than they did 50 years ago. In parts of Nevada, fire weather now occurs nearly twice as often, raising concerns about longer and more intense fire seasons.

Why are Las Vegas, Reno seeing increased warming?

The long-term warming of spring across Nevada — and much of the country — is driven by heat-trapping pollution from burning coal, oil and methane gas. Scientists attribute rising seasonal temperatures to global warming driven by human activity.

Concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane — the two most powerful human-driven greenhouse gases — are higher now than at any time in at least 800,000 years, according to Climate Central.