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Extreme temperatures could affect Las Vegas flights

Posted at 9:39 AM, Jul 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-07-26 17:18:03-04

It's no secret Las Vegas is one of the top tourist destinations in the world, but if mother nature keeps things up the number of visitors we see may start to dwindle.

The heat could affect flights. Generally, planes can take off without problems until McCarran International Airport clocks up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

RELATED: Excessive heat warning extended through Saturday in Las Vegas

There's a reason for this. The high heat makes the air less dense, meaning there are less air particles around the wing of the plane. The plane needs to go even faster to achieve lift in this case. Sometimes there's just not enough runway to make this happen.

This will hurt a city like Las Vegas more than most since a lot of locals work at casinos and hotels, with fewer patrons that could mean fewer tips and fewer dollars in their pockets. 

Tourism supported 391,000 jobs last year in Southern Nevada, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

It's up to the airline, not the airport, to decide to fly. The rules about heat and take off change from plane to plane.