Elko, NV climate
Elko has chilly, snowy winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 15°, and about 41 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Elko feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Elko weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38° | 15° | 1.2" | 10.4" | 9 | 18 | 16° – 37° |
| February | 43° | 18° | 0.9" | 6.8" | 8 | 12 | 22° – 39° |
| March | 52° | 24° | 0.9" | 5.5" | 8 | 3 | 33° – 44° |
| April | 59° | 29° | 1.0" | 3.3" | 9 | 1 | 40° – 50° |
| May | 69° | 36° | 1.2" | 0.4" | 9 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| June | 80° | 43° | 0.7" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 56° – 68° |
| July | 90° | 50° | 0.4" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 60° – 75° |
| August | 89° | 47° | 0.3" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 63° – 72° |
| September | 79° | 39° | 0.6" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 55° – 62° |
| October | 65° | 28° | 0.7" | 0.5" | 5 | 0 | 40° – 53° |
| November | 50° | 21° | 0.9" | 4.1" | 7 | 2 | 27° – 41° |
| December | 39° | 14° | 1.2" | 10.2" | 9 | 13 | 19° – 32° |
| Year | 63° | 30° | 9.9" | 41.2" | 79 | 49 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Elko
Elko gets 10 inches of rain and melted snow a year. May is the wettest month and August the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 79 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 49 days of the year.
About 111 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by May 29 and the first one by September 18. That leaves about 111 frost-free days for gardens, shorter than 98% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Elko
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Elko, 93% of that work is heating and 7% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Elko compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Elko averaged 0.6° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+1.8°). The shift is smaller than in 93% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Elko’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 16° to 37°. September is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Elko’s climate
What is the coldest month in Elko?
December, with a typical high of 39° and a low of 14°.
What is the hottest month in Elko?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 50°. About 48 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Elko get?
About 41 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Elko?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by September 18, and the last spring frost by May 29.
What is the rainiest month in Elko?
May, with 1.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 10 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Elko itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Elko Rgnl Airport, NV (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.