Climate - Reno (Nevada)

The climate of Reno is arid continental, with cold winters and hot summers, and with strong temperature variations between night and day.
The city is located in western Nevada, at 1,350 (4,430 feet) meters above sea level, and a short distance from the California border. To the west is the northernmost part of the Sierra Nevada, whose highest peak is Mount Rose, 3,284 meters (10,774 ft) high. Beyond the mountains lies Lake Tahoe. To the north-east is Pyramid lake. South of Reno is Carson City, which has a similar but slightly wetter climate.
We are in the western part of the vast arid plateau of the United States called Great Basin.
The scarce rains are more frequent in winter, while some afternoon thunderstorms can break out in spring and summer.
The wind blows frequently, in spring and autumn due to clashes of air masses, while in the summer, a moderate or strong breeze blows from the mountains.
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 2.3 °C (36 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 25.1 °C (77 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 185 millimeters (7.4 inches) per year: it is therefore at a desert level. It ranges from 5 mm (0.2 in) in the driest months (July, August, September) to 30 mm (1.2 in) in the wettest ones (January, December). Here is the average precipitation.

In winter there are long sunny periods, with night frosts, while during the day the temperature rises a lot, and generally exceeds 10 °C (50 °F).
However, from mid-March to mid-November, there can be cold spells in which the temperature drops to -15 °C (5 °F) or even below. In recent decades, the record is -26.5 °C (-16 °F), recorded in February 1989.
On average, 53 centimeters (20.9 in) of snow fall per year. It usually snows from November through March, but sometimes it can snow even in April.

The summer is sunny, although sometimes a thunderstorm can break out. During the day it is very hot, even though the air is dry. In addition, the temperature drops a lot at night.
On the hottest days of the year, the temperature usually reaches 39/40 °C (102/104 °F). The record is 42 °C (107.5 °F), set in July 2002 and July 2007.



On average, there are around 3,645 sunshine hours per year. Therefore, the sun shines very often. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

To visit Reno you can choose the month of May and the period from mid-September to mid-October, to avoid the winter cold and the summer heat.

Reno - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Reno is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.7 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -3.3 °C (26.1 °F) and a maximum of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °C (12 °F). However, it dropped to -19.4 °C (-2.9 °F) in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in January 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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In February, the weather in Reno is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 4.8 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of -1.7 °C (29 °F) and a maximum of 11.2 °C (52.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -9 °C (16 °F). However, it dropped to -12.3 °C (9.9 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in February 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In March, the weather in Reno is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 8.1 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of 1.1 °C (34 °F) and a maximum of 15.1 °C (59.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -14 °C (6.8 °F) in March 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 27.2 °C (81 °F) in March 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 45%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in Reno is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 10.9 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 3.6 °C (38.5 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19.4 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (81 °F). However, it reached 32.2 °C (90 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 83% of the time.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In May, the weather in Reno is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.8 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) and a maximum of 23.4 °C (74.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in May 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 36.1 °C (97 °F) in May 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 36%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).

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In June, the weather in Reno is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.7 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 12.1 °C (53.8 °F) and a maximum of 29.2 °C (84.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 13 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 88% of the time.
The average humidity is 30%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).

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In July, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Reno is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) and a maximum of 34.4 °C (93.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.8 °C (37 °F) in July 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C (102 °F). However, it reached 42.2 °C (108 °F) in July 2002.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 13.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 94% of the time.
The average humidity is 26%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).

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In August, the weather in Reno is usually warm to hot. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.9 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) and a maximum of 33.4 °C (92.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (48.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3.9 °C (39 °F) in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 12.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 93% of the time.
The average humidity is 27%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In September, the weather in Reno is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F) and a maximum of 28.8 °C (83.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in September 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 92% of the time.
The average humidity is 31%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In October, the weather in Reno is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 4.3 °C (39.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.3 °C (70.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (27.5 °F). However, it dropped to -7.2 °C (19 °F) in October 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 86% of the time.
The average humidity is 40%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In November, the weather in Reno is usually quite mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.6 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of -0.6 °C (31 °F) and a maximum of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (17.5 °F). However, it dropped to -16.2 °C (2.8 °F) in November 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). However, it reached 28.3 °C (82.9 °F) in November 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 71% of the time.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Reno is usually cold. The average temperature is of 2.3 °C (36 °F), with a minimum of -3.5 °C (25.7 °F) and a maximum of 8.2 °C (46.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11.5 °C (11.5 °F). However, it dropped to -21.1 °C (-6 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16.5 °C (62 °F). However, it reached 20 °C (68 °F) in December 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 25 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).