Hold onto your hats, Las Vegas! The National Weather Service is forecasting gusty northerly winds following the passage of a cold front today, making for a blustery Sunday and Monday. In a recent discussion, Wind Advisories are now in place for parts of Southeastern California and Southern Nevada through tonight, including for those braving the choppy Colorado River Valley through tomorrow evening.
Winds could reach up to 40 to 50 mph, particularly in the mountains, with the potential to create difficult travel conditions across major thoroughfares like Interstates 15 and 40, the NWS warns, even as we look ahead to a brief respite on Tuesday. The outlook isn't too promising for rain-seekers, as precipitation has been less than stellar with this system; Mohave County could see a smattering of less than 0.1 inch of rain, with a remote possibility of up to 0.2 inches.
As we bid farewell to the strong northerly winds on Monday and welcome a quiet Tuesday, don’t rest too easy; another system is expected to arrive by midweek. The NWS is already hinting at the need for additional Wind Advisories on Wednesday, though this time, the valleys and mountains may see little to no rain or snow from this system.
Heading towards the weekend, forecast models seem to agree on a calmer note: Friday may still see us grappling with lingering northerly breezes as the last of the system begins its slow exit stage right, but Saturday is shaping up to offer some much-needed tranquility along with a slight uptick in warmth, signaling a shift towards zonal flow or ridge building.
In the air travel domain, Harry Reid International Airport is on a bit of a wind watch too. Pilots can anticipate 30-knot gusts post-sunrise, clearing skies overnight, and a general north-northeasterly trend later in the day. Other regional airports might dodge direct showers, but they won't escape the breezy conditions either, especially near the Colorado River Valley. As always, spotters are being asked to report any significant weather patterns or impacts that may transpire, as per standard protocols.
