We are in a bit of a cooler stretch of early summer weather, but on average this is far from the new norm.
Since 1970, according to a new report by the nonprofit news organization Climate Central, nighttime summer minimum temperatures have gone up by 3.1 degrees on average nationwide, with the biggest spike in Reno experiencing a staggering 17.7 increase in overnight degrees, followed by Las Vegas with a plus 10 and El Paso with a plus 8.9.
Warm nights limit our bodies' ability to recover from daytime heat, especially for older people, children, pregnant women and outdoor workers. For lower income individuals, hot nights mean greater demand for air conditioning, which isn't always affordable or even available.
Our Town Reno reporting, June 2025