2014 warmest year on record for Nevada

RENO — A federal report says 2014 was the warmest year for Nevada since record keeping began in 1895.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports the average temperature across the state was 53.1 degrees, which is 3.6 degrees above average over the 20th century.

Last year was the warmest for Las Vegas and Reno.

Las Vegas’ average temperature was 72 degrees, 2.6 degrees above average and 0.8 degree warmer than the previous record set in 2012.

Reno’s average temperature was 57.3 degrees, 3 degrees above normal and 1 degree warmer than the previous record set in 2012.

The average annual temperature nationwide was 52.6 degrees.

Nevada Climatologist Douglas Boyle told the Reno Gazette-Journal (http://on.rgj.com/1B0PBXY ) that Nevada faced a “double whammy” of warmer temperatures and lighter precipitation in 2014.