The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued a forecast highlighting another round of showers and thunderstorms for the region today. As the upper-level low moves into Arizona, a northerly flow aloft over the area is expected to bring with it increased chances of precipitation. As per the National Weather Service's Area Forecast Discussion, areas such as "Clark, Lincoln, Mohave, and most of San Bernardino counties" will see "PWATs remain over 200 percent of normal," which aligns with the greatest anticipated storm activity.
In addition to the forecasted storms, northerly winds are to also develop in northern Inyo and Esmeralda counties, with high temperatures predicted to be 15 to 20 degrees below average across Eastern regions. This comes at a time where typically Las Vegas would start to steadily heat up. The National Weather Service report points out that, "High temperatures are 15 to 20 degrees below average for this time of year in the eastern half of the forecast area," which includes notable places such as the Las Vegas Valley and the Colorado River Valley.
Looking towards the rest of the week, residents can expect to quickly shed their umbrellas for sunglasses. Starting Tuesday, as the weather system responsible for the current conditions starts to ebb, the region will see a surge in temperature. According to the National Weather Service release, "a building ridge will slingshot our temperatures from well below normal to well above normal by the end of the week." By Saturday, forecasters are envisioning Las Vegas to be reveling in the mid-upper 90s with a subtle 10% chance of breaking into the triple-digit zone.
The current weather pattern does more than to just moisten the parched desert soil, it disrupts things in the sky too. Aviation operations around Harry Reid International Airport are on alert for "intermittent impacts expected at the terminal including erratic gusty winds, MVFR/IFR conditions in low clouds and rain, as well as lightning strikes." There's a particular watch out for thunderstorm activity late this afternoon into the early evening, which will likely dictate the flow of air traffic, as noted by the National Weather Service's guidance on aviation. The next 24 hours for airports across southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and southeast California could continue to see variable winds and showers, further emphasizing the need for caution among pilots and passengers alike.
