April warmer, drier than usual in Nevada as warm streak continues

Scott Sonner

Thursday, May 4, 2000 | 2:31 a.m.

RENO, Nev. - Western Nevada has completed its 12th straight month of above normal temperatures, including an eight-month stretch from September to April that was the warmest on record, the state climatologist says.

"Western Nevada has been the Banana Belt with all 12 months since April 1999 above normal," climatologist John James said Thursday.

The average temperature in Reno last month was 54.1 degrees - 5.5 degrees above the normal 48.6.

It was the seventh warmest April in Reno in the 113 years records have been kept, James said.

Elsewhere in the state, Elko posted an average of 48.4 in April, 4.1 degrees warmer than the usual April in northeast Nevada.

Las Vegas averaged 71.2 degrees. That's 7.1 degrees hotter than normal, the second warmest April in Las Vegas since weather observations began there in 1937, James said. The warmest April was 72.7 degrees in 1989.

The mercury rose to 99 degrees at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas on April 25, tying the all-time April high at the airport previously set April 24, 1946, and April 30, 1981, James said.

"Overall, it was another mild and dry month over most of Nevada," James said.

"Precipitation was below normal at most locations, with none at some spots," he said.

Las Vegas received just a trace of rain for the month, 0.21 of an inch below normal.

Reno reported 0.34 of an inch of rain, 0.04 below normal in April. It was the first month precipitation has fallen below normal in Reno since April 1999, the National Weather Service said.

Elko received 0.69 of an inch of rain in April, 0.13 below normal.