Las Vegas Valley inches up on first 100-degree day

Trying to steal an inflatable beach ball from each other, two brothers splashed in the pool at Desert Breeze Park on Monday in a game a little different from their usual sport. Seven-year-old Jeremiah Quiambao quipped that "it's too hot" to play basketball.

His dad said the days for shooting hoops did last a little longer this year because the city still hasn't seen the 100-degree mark.

Temperatures could hit triple digits today , which would tie 1971 for the fourth spot on the list of latest date to reach 100, according to the National Weather Service. May 25 is the average date for Las Vegas to see its first 100-degree scorcher.

The all-time latest date was June 30 in 1965, the same year that holds the record for the lowest number of 100-degree days at 44. On average, there are 72.4 100-degree days a year here.

But this year's late start to unbearable heat doesn't mean a cool summer.

There is a 54 percent chance that July and August will hold above-average temperatures, said Chris Stachelski, a meteorologist with the weather service.

With Texas experiencing a major drought, the heat will be locked in that region for a while, sparing Las Vegas for June, Stachelski said.

The late start to the dog days of summer also can be credited to record snowfall, some of which is still on the ground in the northern Sierra and parts of the Rockies, Stachelski said.

Mount Charleston even has a little snow at its peak.

For many valley residents, the cooler temperatures have meant savings on the air-conditioning bill .

Jennifer Lindemon, who has lived in town for 22 years, said she just flipped on her air conditioning over the weekend.

With temperatures Monday teetering just below triple digits at 98 degrees, Lindemon and her 5- and 2-year-old sons cooled off at the pool, where they plan to spend many more afternoons.

"It's been nice, but it's coming," she said. "It's going to get hot."

Contact Jessica Fryman at jfryman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.