Las Vegas is starting the weekend on a deceptively calm note: sunny, dry and heating into the mid 90s, with only light southerly breezes early Saturday. The official high for the day is expected to land near 95°F, and afternoon gusts should run about 15 to 20 mph before the real wind show arrives. The big headline for locals is a High Wind Warning set for Sunday, May 17, into early Monday morning.
High Wind Warning Sunday Into Monday
The High Wind Warning runs from 2 p.m. Sunday, May 17, through 5 a.m. Monday, May 18, covering the Las Vegas Valley and nearby wind-prone spots. Forecasters with the National Weather Service expect southwest winds to swing around to the northwest, with sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph and widespread gusts of 50 to 60 mph. A few exposed corridors could briefly spike to 70 mph, with the strongest punch expected late Sunday afternoon into the evening. Downed tree limbs and power lines are possible, and those gusts could make travel tricky for high-profile vehicles, according to the agency.
Event And Travel Impacts
The timing could get particularly dicey for Electric Daisy Carnival (May 15 to 17) at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where Sunday night’s wind may mean shuttle slowdowns and last-minute staging tweaks. Attendees and drivers are being urged to pad their travel time and stick close to official event updates. Crews may have to secure or even temporarily take down outdoor stages if gusts threaten structural safety, as coverage of the weekend forecast has pointed out, per DJ Mag.
How To Prepare
Residents are encouraged to lock down anything that can turn into a projectile: patio furniture, tarps and loose signage should all be secured ahead of Sunday. Try to avoid driving high-profile vehicles during Sunday evening’s frontal passage. Keep phones charged in case of brief power outages, and if you come across downed wires or hazardous debris, stay clear and call 911 or local emergency services.
When It Calms Down
By Monday afternoon, winds are expected to back off and temperatures should only reach the upper 70s, before a gradual warmup later in the week. For updated timing and any changes or expanded advisories, keep checking local forecasts from the National Weather Service.
