The official temperature reached 100 at Harry Reid International Airport at 1:07 p.m. Friday for the first century-mark reading this year.
The thermometer reached 99 at 12:35 p.m. and stayed steady until 1:07 p.m.
Reaching the mark is an unofficial start to the summer heat in Las Vegas Valley, and officials publicly warned residents about heat dangers earlier this week and offered advice on how to stay safe and cool.
It took until June 30 to reach a reading of 100 at the Las Vegas Airport last year, a record for the latest arrival of the century mark. Ther average date is May 24. The earliest Las Vegas has hit 100 was May 1, 1947.
Once the heat arrived last year, it stayed well above normal with a stretch in July being called the hottest two weeks in Las Vegas weather history.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a 50 to 60 percent chance for a “warmer than average summer situation for June, July and August.”
And it appears Las Vegas won’t be alone.
“For the most part, the majority of the country shows a good chance of above normal (temperatures) this summer,” weather service meteorologist Johnna Infanti said of the CPC’s prediction for temperatures across the country.
All areas of the country show above average chances for summer temperatures to be above normal except for the upper Midwest in the Dakotas and parts of Nebraska and Iowa. The Pacific Coast portion of Alaska is the only area forecast to have below chances to see normal summer temperatures.
Contact Marvin Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com.