textproduct: Las Vegas

KEY MESSAGES

* Anomalous early-season heat continues through the forecast period.

DISCUSSION

Today through Friday.

A ridge of high pressure persists over the Desert Southwest, resulting in continued anomalous early-season heat. A weak shortwave will ride along the upper-level ridge today, which will bring breezy southwest winds to the region as well as increased cloud cover mid- to-late afternoon. This cloud cover may arrive late enough to produce little in the way of relief to afternoon high temperatures for the Mojave Desert, but should help cool the southern Great Basin compared to the last few days. Additionally, this cloud cover will trap the heat overnight, likely resulting in numerous record warm morning lows. Afternoon temperatures cool by 3 to 5 degrees on Sunday and Monday... but will still remain around 30 degrees above seasonal normals. As the ridge rebounds mid-week, afternoon high temperatures increase once again to similar values as seen over the last few days. There is no substantial cooldown expected in at least the next 7 days.

AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package

Winds will settle out of the southwest early in the period, increasing to 10-12KT with gusts up to 18-20KT on at least an intermittent basis through the afternoon. After sunset, winds diminish, becoming light and variable overnight before settling into typical daily directional patterns on Sunday. VFR conditions continue, with increasing mid-level and high clouds through the forecast period. Temperatures are expected to remain under 100 degrees today.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Across most of the region, breezy southwest winds will develop this afternoon, with speeds around 10-15KT. These winds and any accompanying intermittent higher gusts will diminish after sunset, with the exception of the western Mojave, including KDAG, where elevated westerly winds are expected for the duration. Additionally, in the Owens Valley, including KBIH, winds generally remain northwesterly around 5-10KT. VFR conditions continue, with increasing mid-level and high clouds through the forecast period.

CLIMATE

Numerous climate locations have a forecast high temperature and/or forecast warm low temperature within 3 degrees of the daily record.

The table below shows the daily record maximum temperature and the year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which records are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast).

MAX SAT, MAR 21 SUN, MAR 22 MON, MAR 23 TUE, MAR 24 Record(Yr) Record(Yr) Record (Yr) Record (Yr)

Las Vegas 92(2004)* 91(2004)* 89(2004)* 89(1940)* Bishop 84(2004)* 83(2004)* 82(2004)* 82(2022)* Needles 98(2004)* 97(2004)* 94(1990)* 94(2025)* Daggett 92(2004)* 92(2004)* 89(1971)* 91(1956)* Kingman 89(2004)* 87(2004)* 85(1956)* 83(1956)* Desert Rock 87(2004)* 87(2004)* 83(1990)* 84(2025)* Death Valley 101(2004)* 102(2004)* 99(2004)* 99(2025)*

The table below shows the daily record warm minimum temperature and the year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which records are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast).

WARM MIN SAT, MAR 21 SUN, MAR 22 MON, MAR 23 TUE, MAR 24 Record(Yr) Record(Yr) Record (Yr) Record (Yr)

Las Vegas 69(2017)* 62(2015)* 71(2004)* 66(1998)* Bishop 47(1978)* 46(1963)* 45(2012)* 48(2012)* Needles 70(2017) 68(2004)* 71(2004) 72(1899) Daggett 59(1978)* 62(2015)* 62(2004)* 58(1944)* Kingman 54(1978)* 55(2004)* 58(2004)* 56(2004)* Desert Rock 58(2017)* 54(2018)* 55(2012)* 61(1993)* Death Valley 73(2017)* 72(2022)* 72(1967)* 74(1930)*

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT

Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures.