Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
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212 FXUS65 KVEF 172133 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 133 PM PST Mon Nov 17 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * Widespread rain and mountain snow returns to the region today and tonight, with periods of locally heavy rainfall persisting into Tuesday night. * Wet soils and bursts of moderate to heavy rain will lead rapid runoff and area of flood potential in low lying and sensitive basins. * Heavy snow remains expected in the higher terrain of the Spring Mountains, Sierra, White Mountains, and peaks in the southern Great Basin. && .DISCUSSION...through Sunday. The active weather pattern continues as another rather deep closed low digs south into central California this afternoon. This 548dm low is spreading heavy snow into the Sierra at this hour with some light spillover rainfall reported into the Owens Valley and around Bishop as well. As the low drops further south tonight, increasing diffluent southerly flow will overspread the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, with showers and isolated thunderstorms breaking out prior to daybreak and spreading north in several rounds through the day. As the low slowly pivots east into the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts Tuesday night into Wednesday, precipitation will gradually shift eastward but some lingering light showers may persist into Wednesday under the cool wrap- around flow on the back side of the departing low. Following the widespread and locally heavy rainfall observed across much of the region over the weekend - soils are saturated and will have an added sensitivity to additional rainfall. Latest NBM/HREF probabilities favor Northwest Arizona and the Colorado River Valley with the highest 24 hour rainfall totals exceeding 1 inch, with probabilities ranging from 25-50 percent. Some pockets of heavier rainfall exceeding 2 inches are even suggested across parts of Mojave County. Meanwhile, probabilities for over 0.50 inches remain elevated across much of southern Nevada and much of Inyo County, with totals that could end up being comparable to the weekends wet storm system. Given some of the flood impacts witnessed over the weekend and the expectation for additional rainfall, drew a broad flood watch for much of the area starting late this evening and continuing through Wednesday morning. Finally, heavy snow continues to be a concern in the higher elevations. Overall, no major changes to the expectations in the Sierra/White Mountains, but trends towards slightly higher snow levels do have some implications for the Spring Mountains and southern Great Basin areas. Overall, snow level within the deep southerly flow Tuesday will climb to 7000-8000 feet across southern Nevada much of the day, resulting in a rain or rain-snow mix within that elevation range that will limit snow totals through the day. Cooler air will filter in after sunset Tuesday allowing snow levels to fall closer to 6000 feet, and when the more impactful snow accumulations are expected in the higher terrain. Specially, Kyle Canyon in the Spring Mountains may remain more rain than snow for most of the day before the snow level falls in the evening. After this system moves out Wednesday evening, another storm system will drop south behind it. Latest trends continue to suggest this system will trend further west and south, largely bypassing our forecast area - however, there remains the chance of some light showers and cooler temps as it moves off the coast. Meanwhile, a much anticipated break is expected by the weekend as ridging builds in temperatures slowly moderate. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...SCT- BKN clouds with CIGS near 6kft AGL will continue through this evening. Meanwhile...southeasterly winds with gusts of 12-16 knots will persist before easing after dark. After midnight, lower clouds around 3000 to 5000 feet AGL are expected to develop, with scattered showers becoming more widespread before sunrise Tuesday. The widespread rain will increase the chances for reduced visibility in fog as well as low ceilings around 1500 to 3000 feet, which are likely to persist through Tuesday evening. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...South to southeast winds are expected for much of the region today and this evening, with gusts of 20 to 30 knots most likely in central Nye, Esmeralda, and northern Inyo counties. Chances for valley rain and mountain snow will spread from west to east, reaching the Sierra Nevada around noon and covering most of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin late tonight into Tuesday morning. The precip chances will be accompanied by low ceilings and terrain obscuration which will persist much of the day Tuesday. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ DISCUSSION...Outler AVIATION...Morgan For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter