Las Vegas faced a cooler Tuesday, with showers and thunderstorms in the forecast. That cooler spell will not last long, with the valley headed for a windy, unsettled day before temperatures climb back into the mid-90s by Thursday.
Scattered showers are expected through late morning, followed by the best chance for thunderstorms between about 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. AccuWeather forecasts Tuesday's high near 84 degrees, with a thundershower possible.
Morning Showers Give Way To Gusty Winds
Tuesday's rain may become more isolated as the afternoon turns partly sunny. North winds are forecast at 12 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 29 mph. Any thunderstorm could bring a brief downpour, lightning, small hail or a sudden burst of wind.
AccuWeather forecasts a mainly clear Las Vegas night with a low near 71 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Anyone heading out during the late-morning storm window should be ready for quickly changing conditions, especially on roads near areas that can collect water.
Sunny Skies Return Wednesday
The warm-up continues after Tuesday: Wednesday is forecast to be sunny with a high near 93 degrees and a clear night around 71. Thursday's high is expected to reach about 94 degrees, with sunny, warm to hot conditions forecast from Friday through Monday.
September Heat and Past Storm Impacts
The National Weather Service Las Vegas Climate Book puts the 1991–2020 normal average high for September at 94.9 degrees. That provides seasonal context for the forecast return to the mid-90s, but the monthly average does not show how often late-September days reach 95 degrees or higher, and it does not indicate a longer-term trend, according to the National Weather Service Las Vegas Climate Book. A separate Las Vegas weekend storm covered in FOX5's Sept. 4, 2023 report prompted multiple swift-water rescues: 30 to 35 vehicles were stranded, and 10 to 12 people were rescued from standing or moving water, FOX5 Vegas reported. That past event is not an indication that Tuesday's forecast will have similar impacts.
In other words, Tuesday gets the drama, while the rest of the week settles back into classic Las Vegas sunshine. Outdoor plans should be easier after Wednesday, though Tuesday's lightning and gusty winds are reason to move indoors when thunder is nearby.
