


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
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212 FXUS65 KVEF 190752 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 1252 AM PDT Wed Mar 19 2025 .SYNOPSIS...Breezy north winds will persist one more day along the Colorado River Valley. Otherwise, light winds with a gradual warming trend are expected through the weekend. A large high pressure ridge will build in early next week allowing temperatures to climb well above normal. && .SHORT TERM...through Thursday. Shortwave ridge will build in across the area with generally light winds and moderating temperatures expected. Building high pressure in the Great Basin will keep north-south pressure gradients elevated and allow for north winds to persist down the Colorado River Valley today, though they will be weaker than yesterday. A weak shortwave will lift into the PacNW and brush the northern Great Basin on Thursday, with some increased cloud cover moving into our northern zones this afternoon ahead of the wave and into Thursday, along with increased ridgeline breezes in the Sierra and southern Great Basin, but otherwise little impact is expected. .LONG TERM...Friday through Wednesday. The main point of interest in the long term is rising temperatures. Models are in good agreement that an upper level ridge will move from the eastern Pacific Ocean into the West Coast Friday and Saturday, amplifying Sunday and early next week. Surface temperatures should reach near average temperatures for this time of year by Friday, increasing to 10 degrees above normal by Monday. Temperatures increase further through the middle of next week as heights aloft rise. Level 1 (Minor) HeatRisk spreads across the desert valleys with an area of Level 2 (Moderate) in Death Valley. This level of heat affects those sensitive to heat, especially those without access to adequate cooling or hydration. The latest NBM gives Las Vegas a 50 percent probability of reaching 90 degrees next Wednesday. Flow around the ridge will maintain dry conditions and light winds aside from breezy northerly winds along the Colorado River early next week. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Northeast breezes continue through the morning hours. Around a 30-50% chance of speeds reaching 10 knots through 19z. As the afternoon rolls around, winds weaken to about 5 knots out of the east. Light southwesterly drainage winds return after sunset and persist through the night. Skies begin clear but SCT to BKN clouds above 15kft move in this evening. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Sites in the Las Vegas Valley are forecast to see northeast winds today, approaching 10 knots at times. A return to typical, drainage winds is anticipated tonight. Breezy south winds in the Owens Valley this afternoon with gusts 15-20 knots. Easterly breezes at KDAG today, becoming light and variable for westerly tonight. Gusty north winds continue in the lower Colorado River Valley through the afternoon but quickly become light around sunset. VFR conditions prevail across the region with SCT to BKN clouds above 15kft moving in this afternoon and evening. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ SHORT TERM...Outler LONG TERM...Meltzer AVIATION...Woods For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter