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Heat safety in Las Vegas
Heat cramps, exhaustion and stroke: the NWS warning signs and first aid, plus where to find cooling stations in Las Vegas.
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · 5 sources
In an emergency, call 911. This page summarizes National Weather Service guidance. It isn’t medical advice. The NWS in turn draws its warning signs and first aid from the CDC.
How hot Las Vegas gets
At Harry Reid International Airport, the 1991–2020 normals show:
- July’s normal high is 104.5°F and its normal low is 82.0°F.
- An average year has 78.2 days at 100°F or hotter and 137.1 days at 90°F or hotter.
- The all-time record is 120°F, set on July 7, 2024.
Nights stay warm in midsummer, so the body gets less chance to recover after a hot day. The NWS HeatRisk scale specifically mentions long-duration heat “with no overnight relief” in its most extreme category.
Know the three stages
The NWS lists three heat illnesses, and they can progress from one to the next.
| Stage | Signs (per NWS) | What to do (per NWS) |
|---|---|---|
| Heat cramps | Painful muscle cramps and spasms, usually in the legs and abdomen; heavy sweating | Apply firm pressure on the cramping muscles or massage gently. Give sips of water unless the person is nauseated. Get medical help if the cramps last longer than 1 hour. |
| Heat exhaustion | Heavy sweating; weakness or tiredness; cool, pale, clammy skin; fast, weak pulse; muscle cramps; dizziness, nausea or vomiting; headache; fainting | Move the person to a cooler place, ideally air-conditioned. Loosen their clothing and apply cool, wet cloths or a cool bath. Offer sips of water. Get medical help if they vomit, or if symptoms get worse or last longer than 1 hour. |
| Heat stroke | Throbbing headache; confusion; slurred speech; nausea; dizziness; body temperature above 103°F; hot, red, dry or damp skin; rapid, strong pulse; fainting; loss of consciousness | Call 911. Move the person somewhere cooler, cool them with cloths or a bath, and do not give fluids. |
During a heat wave
The NWS gives this advice for hot spells:
- Slow down. Reschedule strenuous activity for the coolest part of the day.
- Dress for the heat. Wear lightweight, loose, light-colored clothing.
- Limit your time in the sun. The NWS notes that sunburn reduces your body’s ability to get rid of heat.
- Drink water and other non-alcoholic, decaffeinated fluids, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you’re on a fluid-restricted diet, ask your doctor first. Don’t take salt tablets unless a physician tells you to.
- Use air conditioning, or spend time somewhere air-conditioned. Take a cool bath or shower.
- Don’t point a fan at yourself when the room is hotter than 90°F. The NWS says the dry, blowing air will dehydrate you faster.
Cars heat up fast
The NWS says a parked car can get dangerously hot “even on mild days in the 70s,” and that leaving the windows slightly open doesn’t significantly slow the heating. Never leave a child or a pet in a vehicle, even for a minute. Touch car seats and seat belts before you buckle a child in.
Who is most at risk
The NWS names these groups as especially vulnerable:
- children and infants;
- older adults, especially those with pre-existing conditions, those who take certain medications, those who live alone, and those with limited mobility;
- people with chronic medical conditions;
- pregnant women.
It recommends that they stay in the coolest place available, and that everyone check on older, sick or frail neighbors.
Before you head out
- Check the forecast. The right-now panel on our home page pulls the NWS forecast for the Strip.
- Check the HeatRisk map. NWS HeatRisk rates the next 7 days from 0 (little to no risk) to 4 (extreme).
- Know where to cool off. During heat warnings, Clark County lists its cooling stations.
- Use the normals. Month by month shows what’s normal for any time of year.