Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
001 FXUS65 KVEF 130524 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 924 PM PST Wed Nov 12 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * High confidence that a system will bring gusty winds and precipitation chances late Thursday through the weekend, but low confidence in details and impacts. * Above-normal temperatures today and Thursday will cool to below- normal values next week as the active pattern continues. && .DISCUSSION...through Tuesday. Models continue to trend slower and northward with low pressure system expected late week and over the weekend. Timing/track uncertainties aside, the general expectation is for multiple waves of precipitation to impact various parts of the area. Currently, models show the initial wave arriving late Thursday into Friday morning, mainly bringing precipitation to our western zones. Rising snow levels, now forecast to generally be 9,000 - 10,000 feet, have greatly diminished the threat of winter impacts in the Eastern Sierra with this first wave. Thus, opted to go with a Winter Weather Advisory from 7PM Thursday to 10AM Friday. After a relative lull Friday afternoon, the second wave pushes in early Saturday through Sunday morning. Snow levels aren`t forecast to be quite as high, but still should limit the potential for any winter impacts to the Sierra and Spring Mountains. In the lower elevations, widespread light to moderate rainfall can be expected. With PWAT values forecast to be at or above monthly records, flooding is starting to become a real possibility (10-20% chances), particularly in our California zones. However, a lot can change in ~48 hours (as we`ve already seen) so stay tuned for forecast updates over the coming days. With regard to the winds, widespread gusts of 15-30 mph are likely (70%), with 70% chances of 40+ mph gusts in the Owens Valley and Esmeralda County. A Wind Advisory has been issued for these locations from 10AM Thursday to 4AM Friday. Temperature-wise, we start out with above-normal values, but as the system begins to move in Friday and over the weekend, temperatures drop to seasonable values and then eventually below-normal values next week. Overnight lows look to approach the freezing point for the first time this season in several locations, including Pahrump and Kingman, next week as the active pattern continues. Details remain unclear due to discrepancies in the timing/track of troughs, but ensemble guidance suggests multiple storm systems could impact the region in mid-November, promoting a relatively cool and wet pattern. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 06Z Forecast Package...Winds are expected to remain light, and generally follow diurnal directional patterns with some variability through mid afternoon Thursday. Late afternoon, winds will veer to the south-southwest, with speeds likely to remain under 10KT through the evening when winds then veer to the southwest and become light. VFR conditions prevail, with SCT-BKN ceilings around 15-20kft through the forecast period. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 06Z Forecast Package...Light winds around 5-10KT following typical diurnal directional patterns will continue the next 24 hours. The exception will be the northern Owens Valley, including BIH, where elevated up- valley winds will become gusty once again by mid-morning, increasing to 25-35KT late morning onward. Otherwise, VFR conditions prevail, with bands of mid-level and high clouds at or above 10kft for the duration. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ DISCUSSION...Woods AVIATION...Phillipson For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter