The latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Las Vegas paints a warm picture for the region as temperatures are expected to soar well above normal through the middle of the week. The high pressure system currently hovering over the area is bringing a strong warming trend, with daytime highs anticipated to reach 14 to 18 degrees above the usual for this time of year by Wednesday. According to the NWS report, "The latest NBM 4.2 and 5.0 both show at least a 75% chance of reaching 90 degrees in Las Vegas for the first time this year and about a 50% chance of Death Valley reaching 100 degrees." Las Vegans should prepare to experience the first 90-degree reading of the year.
However, as we move later into the week, a shift in the weather is expected. A cut-off low-pressure system off the coast is likely to mix things up, bringing gusty winds and cooler temperatures that should drop from 4 to 8 degrees by Thursday and then further dip by 8 to 12 degrees on Friday. This incoming system is also bringing with it a slight chance of precipitation, though it seems set to be confined to the northern part of Lincoln County with a 15 to 30% likelihood on Friday, according to the NWS discussion. Residents in southern Nevada and northwest Arizona should be ready for increased winds and a break from the heated days earlier in the week.
The situation at Harry Reid Airport is looking straightforward for travelers, with the NWS forecasting clear skies and light winds adhering to diurnal patterns through the specified forecast period. VFR conditions will serve to keep flights on schedule, alongside "a few passing high clouds around 25kft after 25/00Z." Those traversing the Lower Colorado River Valley, however, should anticipate elevated northerly winds in the locales of KIFP and KEED where gusts could reach up to 20-25KT and 20KT respectively before calming down later in the day.
Heading into the weekend, another shortwave is expected to roll through the Western US, stirring up some afternoon breezes and making sure that temperatures hover around the seasonal norms for late March. Next week's weather carries with it a bit of unpredictability, owing to the potential for a more impactful low-pressure system that could alter conditions across the Western US. NWS advises spotters to remain vigilant and "to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures."
