Las Vegas riders and rollers, you might want to keep a light jacket and rain gear handy this week as the city prepares for some weather shenanigans, courtesy of Mother Nature. According to the latest report from the National Weather Service Las Vegas, a slew of disturbances are forecasted to breeze through the Western US, potentially drenching the Sierra and southern Great Basin areas with precipitation and peppering the rest of us with winds and milder temps.
Cloud-watchers got an early show this morning with mid-level and high clouds parading across the sky, as an incoming shortwave trough signals a 20 to 50 percent chance of light to moderate rainfall. Don’t be surprised if a thunderclap or two interrupts your siesta, especially in northern Lincoln County, where the NWS points to the likelihood of some rumbling thunder. As for Vegas proper and our fellow desert dwellers, we’ll stick to the dry script, but expect the breezes to pick up this afternoon. While temperatures may try to stay “seasonable,” this is Vegas—so you know that’s just the warm-up act.
Speaking of acts, the late-week weather performance will come with similar precipitation odds—a bit of déjà vu, with rain chances hovering around 20 to 40 percent, mainly for the Sierra and southern Great Basin once again. Friday, however, looks to bring a show-stopper, with wind gusts between 20 and 40 mph and temperatures dipping 4 to 8 degrees lower than what the calendar typically delivers. The NWS notes that ensemble guidance suggests troughing will linger over the western U.S. into next week, keeping temperatures seasonably cool and breezes elevated.
Flyers taking off from Harry Reid might witness some shifting winds later today, with southerly currents turning southwest and getting a bit gusty through the evening—though chances are slim (less than 10 percent) that they’ll exceed 25KT. VFR flyers can rejoice, too, as conditions look clear with mid- and high-level clouds making their exit by tomorrow morning. For the rest—southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and southeast California—it’s pretty much the same story in different locations: southwest winds with gusts up to 25KT before easing after sunset, and skies remaining friendly for VFR.
The NWS is keeping its doors open for any local weather enthusiasts, so if you spot something wild or even mildly eyebrow-raising, feel free to tip them off. Their Spotter Information Statement reads, “Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures.” Keep your phones charged and your eyes on the skies, Las Vegans—it could be an interesting week.
