Las Vegas residents and visitors can expect a reprieve from the rain with sunny skies on the horizon, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service. After a low-pressure system sparked showers and thunderstorms across parts of northwest Arizona, the remainder of the week looks to be "quiet weather," says the National Weather Service Las Vegas in an early morning discussion. The weather trend includes a temperature climb to potentially record heights for the year as we inch closer to the weekend.
While Arizona may still see some weakening showers today, the Silver State, and the city of Las Vegas, are set to dry off. "Showers in Arizona are gradually weakening," reports the National Weather Service, with the expectation that any lingering moisture will dissipate soon. The report also forecasts that Las Vegas could get its first 100-degree day, stating "NBM probabilities remain between 20-40% for reaching 100 at Las Vegas over the weekend for the first time this year." So, it's time to crank up those air conditioners and brace for the heat wave that's set to envelop lower elevations, with temperatures soaring well into the triple digits and possibly climbing above 110 in Death Valley.
As the large ridge that's causing the spike in temperature begins to build across the area, the scorching heat will not linger too long before it drops. "A fairly deep trough will begin to creep towards the PacNW coast and begin nudging our high pressure ridge east," explains the National Weather Service. This shift will initiate a cooling trend by Monday and bring back gusts to the Great Basin region. The temperatures are expected to settle back to seasonal norms by next Tuesday, offering some relief to the residents.
The aviation sector will also see improvement with "dry conditions" and "skies clearing out by this evening." The National Weather Service notes in their forecast that for airports like Harry Reid, the main concern early this morning was the possibility of wrap-around showers, however, confidence was low as to whether the precipitation would actually materialize. For now, pilots and passengers can anticipate tranquil skies, "with ceilings quickly improving to around 12kft," and winds settling into "largely diurnal patterns thereafter."
The National Weather Service is asking weather spotters to report any big changes or impacts to help keep forecasts accurate, especially with Nevada's unpredictable weather. As the weekend nears, be ready for hot temperatures and possible gusty winds after the heat wave.
