Typically Western

• Elko, located at 5,067 feet above sea level, has the classic, western United States climate. This climate is one of low average annual precipitation and Elko is representative, with an average annual precipitation total of only about 10 inches. July and August are hot, winters are cold, and on average Elko receives 28 inches of snow each year.
  
  

Temperature Swings

• This city has the wide daily temperature swings seen in the semi-arid Western states. Elko's average July and August highs hover at or near 90 degrees F, but July and August average lows in the mid- to high 40s -- a daily swing of 40 degrees.
  
  

Snow and Cold

• Elko's snowiest months on average are December and January, with an average total of about 9 inches of the white stuff for each of these months. The average December and January low is a chilly 14 degrees F.