Las Vegas in December
Normal high 57°F, normal low 40°F (NOAA 1991-2020)
- Normal high
- 56.9°F (1991-2020), the coolest of the year
- Normal low
- 39.6°F (1991-2020)
- Normal average temperature
- 48.2°F
- Normal precipitation
- 0.45 in
- Record high
- 78°F on December 2, 1940
- Record low
- 11°F on December 23, 1990
- Nights at or below freezing
- 4.6 in a normal December, the most of any month
- Major recurring events
- Wrangler National Finals Rodeo December 3-12, 2026; Las Vegas Bowl December 31, 2026; New Year's Eve fireworks
About
December is the coolest month in Las Vegas on average. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Harry Reid International Airport give an average high of 56.9°F and an average low of 39.6°F, the lowest of any month. It also has the most freezing nights, 4.6 in a normal December. The record low is 11°F, from December 23, 1990, while the warmest December day on record reached 78°F in 1940.
Rain is light, with a normal of 0.45 inches. The National Weather Service says the coldest winter nights in Las Vegas drop into the 20s, with readings in the teens or lower only in the most severe cold outbreaks. Snow has fallen in about two-thirds of winter seasons but usually melts as it falls; measurable snow at the airport happens about once every four or five years.
Days are short and cool but often sunny. The NWS notes the airport sits in the valley's urban heat island, so mornings in outlying areas can be 5 to 15 degrees colder than the official reading.
What to expect
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo fills early December. The 2026 rodeo runs ten performances at the Thomas & Mack Center, nightly at 5:45 p.m. from December 3 to December 12. Cowboy Christmas, its official gift show, runs December 3-12, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center's South Halls, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl is at Allegiant Stadium on Thursday, December 31, 2026, the second year in a row it falls on New Year's Eve. The Raiders' last home game of 2026 on their published schedule is December 13.
New Year's Eve ends the year with fireworks. For the 2025-26 celebration, Visit Las Vegas described a coordinated eight-minute fireworks display at midnight from resort rooftops along the Strip and downtown, with the Strip closing to traffic from 6 p.m. until nearly 2 a.m. Check visitlasvegas.com for this year's plans. Glittering Lights at Las Vegas Motor Speedway runs through January 4, 2027.
The months either side
Plan the trip
Good to know
- Bring a warm coat, hat and gloves for outdoor evenings, especially for New Year's Eve on the Strip; normal lows are near 40°F.
- On New Year's Eve, plan transport early: last year the Strip closed to vehicles from 6 p.m. until nearly 2 a.m., according to Visit Las Vegas.
- Expect colder mornings away from the Strip, where the NWS says lows can run well below the airport's.
- Snow is rare at the airport and usually melts as it falls; the NWS says the higher west side of the valley sees measurable snow more often.
Questions about Las Vegas in December
How cold is Las Vegas in December?
December is the coolest month on average. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Harry Reid International Airport give an average high of 56.9°F and low of 39.6°F, with 4.6 nights at or below freezing in a normal December. The record low is 11°F, from December 23, 1990, and the record high is 78°F, from 1940.
When is the National Finals Rodeo in 2026?
The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo runs ten performances at the Thomas & Mack Center from December 3 to December 12, 2026, each starting at 5:45 p.m., according to the NFR's official performance schedule. Cowboy Christmas, the official gift show, runs December 3-12 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
What happens on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas?
The Strip closes to traffic and resorts launch fireworks at midnight. For 2025-26, Visit Las Vegas described an eight-minute coordinated display from rooftops including ARIA, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand and The STRAT, with the Strip shut from 6 p.m. until nearly 2 a.m. Check visitlasvegas.com for this year's details.
When is the Las Vegas Bowl?
The SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl XXXV is scheduled for Thursday, December 31, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium. The organisers note it is the second consecutive season the game falls on New Year's Eve. Check lvbowl.com for kickoff time and tickets.
Does it snow in Las Vegas in December?
Rarely in a way that sticks. The National Weather Service says snow has fallen in about two-thirds of winter seasons in Las Vegas but usually melts as it falls. Measurable snow at the airport happens about once every four or five years, more often on the valley's higher west side.