Las Vegas residents should prepare for rising temperatures as September ends. The National Weather Service forecasts a steady increase in heat due to an upper-level ridge, with dry conditions continuing into next week and no showers expected.
The heat will continue through the week as temperatures rise daily due to an upper-level ridge over the region. A shortwave trough passing through the Great Basin on Wednesday may slightly increase southerly winds, but they are not expected to cause significant impact. Thursday's forecast indicates the warm conditions will persist.
The weekend forecast continues the trend of unseasonable heat, with high pressure keeping the Southwest warmer than usual. Las Vegas residents can expect afternoon temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above average, with a 75% chance of reaching 100 degrees on Saturday. The National Weather Service warns of increasing heat risks, especially in desert areas like Death Valley and the Colorado River Valley, where extreme heat impacts are possible.
A significant temperature drop is expected early next week as a trough moves eastward, which may provide relief from the persistent heat. According to the National Weather Service, "Temperatures should begin to go down early next week as a trough moves east and heights aloft start to fall."
Pilots can anticipate continued VFR conditions. At Harry Reid Airport, winds are expected to shift to northeast or east in the afternoon and to southwest overnight. Calmer air traffic conditions are likely to prevail across southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and southeast California. Most regional TAF sites should experience winds at or below 10 knots through Wednesday, with daytime speeds potentially reaching 15 knots at IFP. Clear skies are forecast, with no significant cloud cover expected.
