Reno is at the western edge of the Great Basin, a zone stretching to Salt Lake City that does not drain to the sea - water is carried away by evaporation only. Average rainfall is approximately 6 inches a year, with much of that occurring in the winter in the form of snow. July is the warmest month, with an average high of 91 degrees Fahrenheit, and January is the coldest month, with an average low of 19 degrees Fahrenheit.Reno is located in Northwestern Nevada, at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and serves as the urban center for a region including nearby Carson City and the Carson Valley, Lake Tahoe, Pyramid Lake, and historic mining town Virginia City, home of the Comstock Lode. Along with the city of Sparks, Reno is located in the Truckee Meadows, and together they form the Reno-Sparks Metropolitan Area.The past 15 years have not always been kind to Reno – it has seen a number of its casinos shuttered due to increasing competition from Indian tribes in California and megaresorts in Las Vegas. Given that its downtown centered around these activities for a good 50 years, many visitors in recent times have come away from Reno with a less-than-inspired first impression. However growth in the area has continued due to its livability. Reno is working hard to build a different kind of city for a greater variety of tastes, and keeping that in mind will help the visitor see the town through the right kind of eyes. http://wikitravel.org/en/Reno