Las Vegas woke up warm and clear on Thursday, with blue skies and temperatures already sitting in the mid 80s. From there, the heat is off to the races. The forecast high is near 108°F this afternoon, and the bone-dry air will make spending much time outside feel pretty brutal. Add in gusty southerly winds over dry fuels, and fire-weather concerns are on the rise across the valley.
Afternoon Heat And Gusts
According to the National Weather Service, south-southeast winds of 5 to 15 mph this afternoon are expected to kick up gusts into the low 20s. Friday, June 19, looks even breezier, with some spots seeing gusts climb to around 35 to 40 mph.
Forecasters expect humidity to tumble into the single digits to mid teens, and the agency has flagged elevated fire weather for much of southern Nevada. Temperatures will ease off a bit over the weekend before climbing again next week, with valley highs possibly topping 110°F by mid week.
Fire Weather And Safety
Clark County has daytime cooling stations up and running through June 18 for anyone who needs an air conditioned place to ride out the worst of the heat. The county site lists specific locations.
Officials urge residents to take it slow in the heat: drink water often, skip or scale back strenuous outdoor work during the hottest part of the day, and never leave children or pets in parked cars, even for a short errand. With winds picking up, it is also a good time to avoid open flames or any activity that might throw off sparks, and to report any smoke sightings to local fire agencies.
Weekend Outlook
Heading into the weekend, Las Vegas gets a slight break. Highs are expected to hover near 102°F on Saturday, with overnight lows in the upper 70s. Another round of hotter weather is lined up for next week, so it may be wise to aim outdoor errands and events for the early morning or evening hours and keep an eye on updated forecasts.
