I’m not going to pile on the Tropicana AC story today. They got their license ripped, and I’ve said all I’m going to say about it on this thread at 2 Way Hard 3 and to several journalists who’ve called me just to chat about this today.
Instead, I’m going to provide a public service: a winter-weather travel advisory for Las Vegas. I’m spurred to do this after watching too many people head out into passenger pickup at McCarran saying, “Golly, it’s cold here. I thought Vegas was supposed to be in a desert.”
The thing is, deserts aren’t just hot places–they are dry places that can be temperate, hot, or cold. There’s a big part of Antarctica that’s a desert, and I’m sure research scientists don’t fly down there wearing t-shirts and shorts.
Vegas tends to get pretty cold in the winter (roughly December-February), relative at least to Southern California. I know there are lots of folks from the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, and Saskatchewan who will say that even in the middle of December, Vegas temperatures are balmy. That’s true, and winter in Edmonton is pretty toasty to someone who’s used to the far side of Pluto. If you’ve acclimated to dressing for 115-degree summers, 40-degree winters feel cold.
So when you come to Vegas in the winter months, be prepared to be chilly. The temperature ranges from mid to upper 30s at night to mid-50s during the day. You’re probably not going to go to the pool, unless it’s indoors. You should definitely bring a jacket if you’re planning on walking around at night.
This is particularly true for New Year’s. If you’re planning to be outside for the big to-do, dress warmly. Whatever wind there is gets amplified by the high-rises, so it can feel quite gusty. I spent a total of 6 hours at one of the outdoor KLAS locations last New Year’s, and it was really, really cold. Girls: don’t plan on wearing a slinky, strappy dress while promenading around the Strip–you will regret it. Bring a stylish coat–I recommend something mid-calf length, which should be both practical and fashionable. Remember that all of the clubs at the casinos have coat checks, so don’t feel like you’ll have to carry it around all night. Guys, bring a coat, and maybe two, so you can give one to your date (or someone else’s date) who hasn’t brought her own.
I felt like I had to post this after I got back from running yesterday morning. The usual puddles that I dodge were actually frozen, and there was frost over all of the cars. When I got back, the Weather Channel said it was 35 degrees, though I suspect my neighborhood was a little chillier. December’s a great month to come to Vegas, mostly because you can get great room deals, but come prepared.