Las Vegas residents should prepare for a noticeable temperature spike midweek, with highs soaring 10 to 15 degrees above normal by Wednesday. The unseasonably warm conditions are expected to persist for several days before a potential cooldown later in the week, as reported by the National Weather Service.
Despite the temperature rise, a "weak disturbance" moving through the area is expected to do little more than enhance existing north winds today, with gusts ranging between 15 and 30 mph along the I-15 corridor and north-south oriented valleys. According to the NWS discussion, the chance for impactful winds, or gusts over 40 mph, remains under 25%. However, these winds are anticipated to bolster vertical mixing, causing temperatures to rise 3-6 degrees warmer than the previous day.
The NWS has also indicated an upper-level ridge is expected to build over the Western US as the week progresses, pushing temperatures to even hotter levels. Highs in the Mojave Desert are forecasted to reach the upper 80s and 90s. There is, however, potential for "a cutoff low" that might undercut the ridge to produce high clouds, possibly tempering the heating effect, but "temperatures will still be well above normal."
Looking towards the latter half of the week, the weather will shift back to more seasonal conditions. A shortwave approaching from the Pacific Northwest is poised to interrupt the heatwave, ushering in gusty southwest winds by Thursday followed by westerly-to-northwesterly winds on Friday. This change will cause temperatures to drop a few degrees Thursday, followed by an 8 to 12-degree drop into Friday. Precipitation chances will primarily affect the Sierra crest and south-central Great Basin, with probabilities between 15 to 30%, the NWS said.
For air travel, the Harry Reid International Airport should anticipate northeast wind speeds of about 10 knots, with occasional gusts up to 16 knots through 22Z. After that time, winds are forecasted to relax to around 7 knots. Aviation operations throughout southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and southeast California can expect VFR conditions with few to scattered clouds, with the exception of the Colorado River Valley where wind gusts of 15 to 25 knots are predicted to kick up this morning.
Local spotters have the green light from the NWS to report any significant weather incidents or impacts as they occur, adhering to standard operational procedures. As temperatures and conditions fluctuate across the region, residents and travelers alike are advised to prepare for a dynamic weather week ahead.
