Ely experiences a semi-arid climate and consistently remains much cooler than southern Nevada. Our symposium dates in October should deliver a very pleasant surface temperature... but it's always wise to be prepared for anything!
The Western Climate Center reports that average October temperatures are a maximum of 65°F and a minimum of 28°F.
Patchy blowing dust before 11am, then patchy blowing dust and widespread showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. South southeast wind 20 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Widespread showers and thunderstorms before 5am, then isolated thunderstorms and scattered rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. South southeast wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Isolated thunderstorms and scattered rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Isolated rain showers before 2am, then isolated snow showers between 2am and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Mostly clear, with a low around 23.
Sunny, with a high near 60.
Mostly clear, with a low around 27.
Sunny, with a high near 66.
Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Sunny, with a high near 66.
Scattered rain showers after 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Cave ecosystems are often dependent on organic material carried in by water, which serves as the primary food source for the environment. In arid climates with minimal surface rainfall, the input of organic matter and nutrients into caves becomes limited, affecting the overall energy flow within these environments. The intricate interplay between surface conditions and cave biota presents unique management challenges for modern cave biologists. Image courtesy of Dr. Jean K. Krejca, Zara Environmental LLC.
The official event schedule for the 2025 NCKMS has now been updated. Please check our schedule page or download a PDF to your mobile device.
Sitting at Nevada's eastern edge of the "Loneliest Road in America," Ely is a remote mountain town where history, art and outdoor adventure thrive. Ely was founded in the 1870s as a stagecoach stop and trading post called Murray Station, but it would become one of the country's major copper mining regions.
The Nevada Northern Railway arrived in 1906. Now, this well preserved short-line railway draws visitors from all over the world to ride on its queens of steam and historic diesel engines.
Notch Peak, located in West Millard County, Utah, and visible from Great Basin National Park, towers above the desert valleys at 9,725 ft. elevation. This 3,000 ft sheer cliff is one of the tallest limestone cliffs in America.
Campfire Coffee Mug
Stay up all night with our personalized ceramic coffee mug.
This 13oz mug is perfect for school, campfire socials, marathon thesis proofreading, and all-night grant-writing sessions.
Established by congress in 2006, the Great Basin National Heritage Area is a federally designated National Heritage Area in White Pine County, Nevada and Millard County, Utah. The area was defined to recognize and promote the scenic and cultural resources associated with this central portion of the Great Basin.
In 2016, concurrent with the NSS Convention in Ely, the heritage area's partnership arm helped fund a mural recognizing Absolom Lehman's explorations in the Lehman Caves of Great Basin National Park. Designed by NSS cave artist, Carolina Shrewsbury, the mural is now permanently installed on Highway 50 in downtown Ely.
The National Heritage Area includes Great Basin National Park and portions of Humboldt-Toiyabe and Fishlake National Forests, as well as Fort Deseret, Sevier Lake and the Topaz War Relocation Center.