Does It Snow in Nevada? Snowiest Places and Average Amounts

Silver State, Nevada, is beautiful, featuring rolling hills and valleys. Much of the state is located within the Great Basin. Here, you can find a variety of ecosystems and biomes, including deserts. Knowing this about the western state, you may ask, “Does it snow in Nevada?” The answer is yes, it does snow in Nevada! The state may receive snowfall during the winter months, specifically between December and February. The exact amounts vary on location, with areas of higher elevation in Nevada experiencing higher amounts of snowfall than those in lower elevations.

Cities in the north of Nevada, such as Spring Creek and Elko, often receive the most snowfall. However, other cities, such as Las Vegas, receive snow much less often. Below, learn more about the average snowfall in Nevada and explore some of the snowiest places. 

Average Snow in Nevada

Annually, Nevada receives an average of 22 inches of snow. This is around 6 inches less than the national average. However, in the snowiest place in Nevada, Incline Village, the average snowfall totals around 96.1 inches. This contrasts sharply with other cities within Nevada, such as Boulder City or Laughlin, which receive an average of 0.0 inches.

It is important to note that just because these locations receive an average of 0.0 inches each year, this does not mean it never snows here. It just means that snowfall is rare, and when it does snow, the amounts are minimal. 

How Cold Does It Get in Nevada?

Overall, Nevada experiences mild winters. However, temperatures can vary greatly in high-elevation areas compared to those at lower elevations.

During the winter, the average high temperature is 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit. The average low winter temperature is 20.7 degrees Fahrenheit. These average temperatures are 84.6 and 52.7 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer, respectively. 

Snowiest Places in Nevada

The snowiest place in Necade is Incline Village, with 96.1 inches of snowfall on average each year, followed by Spring Creek with 53.1 and Elko with 44.1. Below, learn about the top five snowiest places in Nevada.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © miroslav_1/iStock via Getty Images