LAS VEGAS — The city is getting warmer, and officials are implementing new policies and infrastructure to cope with the heat.
According to data from Climate Central, Las Vegas is the fastest-warming city in America, with its average temperature rising 2.5 degrees since 1970. This year, the city was off to a historically warm start, with afternoon highs reaching the low 70s in January, about 10 degrees above normal.
In June 2025, Assembly Bill 96 was passed and approved to better protect citizens from the heat. The plan requires cities and councils with at least 100,000 residents to amend master plans to address heat mitigation efforts. Assemblymember Venise Karris said in her testimony at the time, “This bill offers a strategic approach to addressing its effects while still providing our local governments with flexibility in specifically tailoring their mitigation efforts to their communities.”
This updated policy allows city planners to implement solutions such as cooling centers, shade over paved areas, tree canopies, and increased public sources of drinking water. The Nevada Division of Industrial Relations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Nevada OSHA) Heat Regulation was enforced in April 2025 to safeguard workers from the risks of heat-related illnesses. Under the regulation, businesses must have a written plan that includes provisions such as portable water, rest breaks, and cooling methods.
Rising temperatures are now a defining feature of Las Vegas, and the city continues to take heat protection measures seriously.
