textproduct: Las Vegas

KEY MESSAGES

* Increasing winds and decreasing temperatures through Friday.

* Ridging returns over the weekend before another weather system brings unsettled weather to the region next week.

DISCUSSION

Today through Tuesday.

The next weather system will be approaching from the north and begin to impact the area form north to south beginning late tonight and then into the Great Basin on Thursday. The two main impacts will be the wind and cooler temperatures. Southwest to westerly winds will average 15 to 25 mph with gusts in the 30 to 40 mph range in most locations with some stronger gusts in the higher terrain. The wind advisory that is in effect looks in good shape. Temperatures will be fall to well below normal levels for mid April and only in the upper 60s in the Las Vegas Valley. The cooler temperatures will be short lived though. The strongest winds will be behind the cold front and down the Colorado River Valley late Thursday night and on Friday with north gusts to 50 mph, with isolated-to-occasional gusts to 60 mph near Laughlin, Bullhead City, and Katherine Landing (50% chance). The only other item of note with this system is for some light precip (rain and snow) in eastern Lincoln County where snow levels will be crashing to under 5000 feet. Any accumulation should be less than an inch.

A ridge will develop over the weekend and provide notable warming and much lighter winds. The ridge will be in place into Monday before the next system moves into the California coast. There is a lot of spread particularly with the timing of the next system and with these closed lows they tend to linger longer. At this point, south to southwest winds will develop ahead of the low by Monday afternoon and particularly on Tuesday.

AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 06Z Forecast Package

Winds will remain elevated through tonight, with sustained speeds of 8 to 10 knots. Winds will increase out of the southwest tomorrow morning, with gusts to around 30 knots by the afternoon. A brief period of reduced winds is possible after sunset Thursday evening before a shift to the northwest occurs between 04Z and 07Z, with a few gusts to 35 knots possible with the frontal passage. Gusty northwest winds will continue through the rest of Thursday night. VFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period, with SCT to at times BKN skies. Bases are expected to remain above 10kft AGL, with any CIGs above 15kft AGL Thursday.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 06Z Forecast Package...Winds generally weaken areawide tonight aside from elevated westerly winds at KDAG. Westerly to southwesterly wind will increase for most locations again after sunrise with peak gusts reaching 25 to 35 knots by the afternoon. Northerly to northwesterly winds are expected throughout the TAF period at KBIH, gradually strengthening in the afternoon and evening. A northerly wind shift should occur in the Las Vegas Valley between 04 and 07Z as a front moves through, bringing a few gusts up to 35 knots. Occasional high clouds are possible at times, but VFR conditions are expected through Thursday.

SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT

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