


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
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723 FXUS65 KVEF 060248 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 748 PM PDT Thu Jun 5 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Isolated-to-scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected across southern Nevada and northwest Arizona this afternoon with lesser chances in southeastern California. Gusty outflow winds, frequent lightning, small hail, and moderate-to-heavy rain will be threats with any storms that develop. Additional weaker storms are possible tomorrow. Things will begin to dry out and heat up as we head into the weekend. && .UPDATE... Showers and thunderstorms continue percolating across the area early this evening, though coverage has decreased fairly significantly over the past few hours. Per the 00Z KVEF sounding, PWATs have already started to drop, and while localized moderate to heavy rain remains possible, the flash flooding threat is also decreasing. The strongest storms are currently located near Baker, CA on I-15, though latest high-resolution guidance indicates this activity will diminish after sunset, becoming weaker as it drifts northeastward. Elsewhere, lightning strikes, downpours, and gusty winds remain possible for the next few hours, so those outdoors this evening will need to stay aware and seek shelter if thunder or lightning are observed. Overall, the forecast this evening remains on track, thus, no updates are warranted at this time. && .SHORT TERM...Today through Friday. An elongated positively tilted 500 mb trough will move east through the forecast area today. Increased vorticity advection combined with plentiful moisture (PWATs 100 to 200 percent of average) and daytime surface heating has already led to thunderstorm development over Mohave County and parts of southern Nevada as of 12 PM PDT. The strongest storms over far southern Clark County feature cloud tops above 30,000 feet and are producing heavy rainfall and frequent lightning. Hail and strong outflow winds are possible with any storms today, but weaker shear should result in smaller hail compared to earlier this week. Guidance shows storms becoming more numerous through the day as instability increases with surface heating. Convection should taper off tonight as surface heating ends and atmospheric instability is exhausted by storm activity. Although moisture and instability decrease tomorrow, there should be enough left for some isolated storm development in the afternoon. SBCAPE values fall to 500 J/kg or less with PWATs still around 200 percent in some areas. Storm activity will primarily be over high terrain where lift is the greatest. Outside of storms, temperatures return to near average temperatures for early June, which for Las Vegas means highs in the mid 90s. .LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday. A return to more typical early June hot and dry conditions is on tap for southern Nevada, southeastern California and northwestern Arizona starting this weekend. Ensemble guidance and cluster analyses remain in good agreement regarding a strengthening ridge over the region, which will facilitate a decrease in moisture and gradually warming temperatures, warming to well above normal Sunday through at least Tuesday. Fairly widespread highs in the 90s and lower 100s are expected Sunday through Tuesday, with Monday and Tuesday looking to be the hottest days of the forecast. Along with the warming temperatures will be increasing HeatRisk, with "Major" HeatRisk returning to Death Valley and the Lower Colorado River Valley on Saturday, gradually expanding across other lower elevations through early next week, with "Extreme" HeatRisk possible for the lowest Valleys Monday and Tuesday. Thereafter, ensemble members begin to diverge, with some indications that a weak trough may try to undercut the ridge heading into midweek, but with little in the way of moisture, this trough would have little impact other than tempering the hot temperatures by a couple of degrees, and producing some breezy conditions. Stay tuned. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 06Z Forecast Package...Breezy northeasterly outflow winds will persist for another couple hours before subsiding by 5z. Winds will go light and diurnal overnight with clearing skies. A few weak showers and thunderstorms will again be possible tomorrow after 18z, with brief light rain and locally gusty winds the main impacts. Coverage and intensity expected to be much less than previous days. Outside of convective influences, winds should be relatively light. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 06Z Forecast Package...Lingering showers and storms persist through the Daggett corridor but will die off quickly after sunset. After a dry night, additional showers and thunderstorms should develop after 18Z on Friday in southern Nevada and western Arizona, however convection on Friday will be less widespread and less likely to produce impacts compared to today. Otherwise, generally light winds expected outside of thudnerstorm influences. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ UPDATE...Phillipson SHORT TERM...Meltzer LONG TERM...Phillipson AVIATION...Outler For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter