Monday, Aug. 4, 2008 | 1:53 p.m.
Las Vegas is breaking records for hot August nights.
The low temperature at McCarran International Airport, the official record-keeping site for local weather, dropped to 89 degrees at 5:42 a.m. Sunday, the National Weather Service said.
That temperature broke the previous record high minimum temperature for Aug. 3 of 87 degrees set in 1980, the weather service said.
This marked the second day in a row that Las Vegas has had a record high minimum temperature. Saturday's low was also 89 degrees.
The valley is on track to break a third record today with a low of 87 degrees. The previous high minimum was 86 degrees, also set in 1980.
Weather service meteorologists believe the warmer low temperatures are the result of an effect called urban island heating, because more paved roads, homes and businesses, and parking lots all help to heat the air.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy