The National Weather Service in Las Vegas forecasts mild conditions continuing through Friday. According to its Area Forecast Discussion, high temperatures are expected to run 10 to 15 degrees above normal during that period.
Rain chances return over the weekend for parts of Inyo and Esmeralda counties, though most of the surrounding region is expected to remain dry. The southern Sierra has a forecast 20 to 50 percent chance of precipitation, with amounts projected to be light and a 75 percent probability of less than 0.25 inches. Snow levels are forecast to stay high, limiting winter-related impacts.
As Christmas approaches, a deepening trough off the California coast is leading the NWS to raise forecasts for rain and snow, though uncertainty remains. Moisture from the south could result in snow at elevations above 7,000 feet, and winds are also likely to be a factor. More detailed information is expected in the days before the holiday week.
The NWS forecasts VFR conditions at Harry Reid International Airport, with light, diurnal winds and high clouds above 20,000 feet. Similar conditions are expected across southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and southeast California, though gusts up to 20 knots may occur in the Colorado River Valley near KIFP in the afternoon before easing by sunset.
Several locations in the valley are forecast to approach record high temperatures in the coming days. Las Vegas is expected to reach a high of 72 degrees on December 18, just 3 degrees below the 1939 record, while nighttime lows may rise to around 48 degrees. The NWS notes that these persistent warm conditions are approaching record levels. Weather spotters in the region are encouraged to report significant conditions following standard procedures.
