[konayipark]

My husband and I are considering moving to the Las Vegas area, and upon researching weather pattens for the area, I find that it's HOT HOT HOT not just during the summer months, but really from May to September. I've visited Las Vegas during the summer, so I understand just how hot it can get, but the trip usually entails me ducking in and out of air conditioned hotels.

Would you locals mind explaining to me just how hot it gets? As in, does it require A/C to be turned on nearly 20+ hours a day? Do the other 4 hours find you sweating it out during the night, waiting until the morning when you can crank the A/C again? Do your pets stay indoors all day due to the heat? Would you mind sharing what your summer electric costs are like, as opposed to non-summer months?

As a San Francisco native, I grew up with lovely Fall weather all year 'round, and now living in Orange County, though I don't love them, I've come to accept the balmy S. California summers that everyone here loves.

Please be honest, as weather is an important factor for me - will I simply melt & be cranky due to the hot Las Vegas endofSpring/Summer/beginningofFalls, or is it bearable for this gal who adores rain and cold weather?

(It's my first time posting, so I thank you in advance for your responses!)

[airics]

yes its hot... my ac is on 24hrs a day.

[gopheralex]

I bike to and from work (10 mins each way). It's not that bad. Feels like a hair dryer in your face. I do get sweaty, but so what. 110 here is more comfortable than 90 in Florida.

Get a programmable thermostat. You can set the AC at 80 while you're home (totally comfortable) and leave it off while you're at work. My most recent electric bill was $67, with an average temp around 100 I think, although my place is "only" 1100 sq. ft, and I am very stingy and use CFL bulbs and whatnot. That will rise a bit as we enter 110s territory, but not by too much. I suspect most people pay a lot more.

If you don't want to use AC, fans are quite effective here due to the low humidity.

It's a bit chilly from November through March or so, but not "cold." (I'm from Wisconsin, so I know cold.) If you adore rain and cold weather, you will not be happy here. It's sunny practically all the time. Eventually you will find yourself craving some variety. It is quite funny to watch everybody rush to the windows to see it when it starts raining, though.

[konayipark]

Originally Posted by gopheralex

It's sunny practically all the time.

I've gotten used to this in Orange County, as well. In the 5 years I've lived here, I can probably count on my two hands the number of times I've had to use my umbrella. Although, I'm sure our "sunny all the time" is no where near as hot as LV's "sunny all the time."

[olecapt]

It is quite hot at the moment...just above 100 but quite comfortable in the shade. The sun is hot though so you stay out of direct sun when possible.

I work outside up to about 103 or 105...particularly at this time of year when it is still very dry. If it gets to 105 or 106 today it will be at 5%.

Later the weather will shift to a southerly flow and the temperature will drop but the humidity will come up. Actual less pleasant than the hotter temps of today.

I think about 1 person in five can't adopt and finds it unlivable..as the gopher said it is better than deep south with the high humidity and somewhat lower temperatures.

I sometimes drive an non-AC truck in the middle of the day and its not bad.

[guinnessjim]

i used to hate the heat (driving down from the mts to ABQ where it was 100 was torture)...so it still feels crazy when i say that the heat here isn't that bad. you get used to it pretty quickly (although i agree w/ the capt...some people never seem to adapt).

yeah...it is HOT out, but just like winter in the north, you deal w/ it. your A/C will be on all the time in the summer....and you will be shocked to wake up to 100 degree temps later in the summer. but (and this still amazes people who knew i much i disliked the heat) you get used to it.

[jksouthbay88]

The Valley's nights are even better.Around 85-95 in the summer,a soft breeze.It feels good.Walk around,get a Cold Stone or Starbucks,if you are visiting walk the strip,people watch catch some entertainment.If you live there,walk the dog,go to the park,play some wiffleball or something like that.I really enjoy summer nights in the desert.

[BUGBULLY]

Hot, hot, hot! But you do get use to it. I grew up in Pa, and was thinking about moving back when I was 18. I went back there during fall, and was back in AZ/NV within 30 days. Too dang cold for me now.

The nice thing is it is a dry heat. Yes, you still sweat, but nothing like the people who have actual humidity.

The monsoon season is here, but we have yet to see some rain. Hope we get some good ones this year. It is nice to just have a rainy day every once in a while.

[ackackack]

Don't forget the dry, hot winds that seem to blow from Spring through Summer. So, even if you do get a chance to leave your windows open (early Spring), you will find a nice dusty film on everything.

A typical summer day is sunny, windy, highs in the 110s, with lows at night in the high 80s to low 90s.

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by ackackack

Don't forget the dry, hot winds that seem to blow from Spring through Summer. So, even if you do get a chance to leave your windows open (early Spring), you will find a nice dusty film on everything.

A typical summer day is sunny, windy, highs in the 110s, with lows at night in the high 80s to low 90s.

yeah....that wind was a shock when i moved here. like a giant hair dryer...crazy hot blast of air! sucks the moisture right out of you.