Las Vegans should hold onto their hats as the National Weather Service Las Vegas has forecasted breezy north winds to continue across the region today. Eastern San Bernardino County and the Colorado River Valley are expected to be hit with the strongest gusts. There's a small silver lining, though, as the city is set to experience cool and quiet weather through tomorrow, for those who prefer their skies less dramatic and their air less tumultuous.
In the latest update from National Weather Service Las Vegas, wind gusts clocking in at 30 to 35 mph have been sweeping through the Colorado River Valley, with Laughlin/Bullhead City Airport catching 40 mph gusts only "in isolated instances." While this didn't warrant a wind-related advisory, today's expected winds, kicking up predominantly from Lake Mohave & Laughlin/Bullhead City through Needles into Lake Havasu City as well as east San Bernardino County, are set to mirror yesterday's bluster, strongest between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m.
It's not all about the wind, though. The weekend's bringing its own dramatics, with widespread rain and mountain snow chances paired with breezy south winds and a drop in the thermometer. A distinct weather pattern change is on the horizon as a strong shortwave dips down from British Columbia and curls into a closed low over central California by Saturday afternoon.
Precipitation will start in areas like the Sierra, southern Great Basin, and western Mojave Desert by Saturday evening and spread eastward by Sunday and Monday. The region should see this active weather phase slowly ebb from west to east by Tuesday. "This does not mean it will rain or snow that entire period, but rather chances exist through that period with the closed low in very close proximity to the region," read the forecast discussion from National Weather Service Las Vegas.
For aviation, the report from NWS advises clear sailing for most of Harry Reid with just light and variable winds this morning shifting to slightly gustier northeast breezes in the afternoon. The rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California can expect light winds this morning, cranking up to north to northeast breezes as the day progresses. Clear skies are on the docket, which means pilots should have an easy time navigating above the region's sweeping desert landscape—at least until the weekend's closed low begins its performance.
