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000
FXUS65 KVEF 182023
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
120 PM PDT Thu Apr 18 2024

.SYNOPSIS...A weak disturbance will move inland Friday bringing a
slight chance of showers to the southern Sierra. Otherwise, dry
conditions and temperatures climbing well above normal will continue
through the weekend and early next week under a ridge of high
pressure. A trough will move inland Tuesday and Wednesday resulting
in gusty southwest winds and temperatures gradually pulling back to
near normal.
&&

.SHORT TERM...through Sunday.

Plenty of high level clouds streaming overhead ahead of a weak
disturbance that will move through the region Friday. This system is
not packing much moisture and only the highest elevations of the
southern Sierra are expected to see any precipitation. This is a
relatively warm system, so snow levels will remain generally above
9000 feet. For the remainder of the area, we will see a continuation
of mid and high clouds along with some afternoon gusty winds across
western San Bernardino County. Due to the thicker cloud cover today,
temperatures were generally running about 3-6 degrees cooler than
Wednesday, but clouds on Friday are not expected be as thick which
will allow afternoon high temperatures to jump a few degrees.

This shortwave will exit the area early Saturday with ridging
developing in its wake with temperatures climbing well above normal.
Probabilities remain high for 90 degree or greater temperatures in
the Las Vegas Valley through the weekend, with lower elevations
along the Colorado River and Death Valley approaching or exceeding
100.

.LONG TERM...Monday through Thursday.

Another shortwave over the eastern Pacific will help shift the ridge
east Monday. Although we may start to see some increasing southwest
winds Monday afternoon temperatures will continue to remain several
degrees above normal. By Tuesday, heights begin to fall in response
to the approaching area of low pressure over the eastern Pacific.
Temperatures are forecast to lower around 4-6 degrees with
additional cooling through the week as the low approaches the area.
By the end of the week, there is about a 80-90% chance that
temperatures will be below normal with highs in Las Vegas back into
the 70s. Precipitation will still remain limited with the highest
probabilities of seeing rain and high elevation snow across the
southern Sierra and across Esmeralda, central Nye, and northern
Lincoln Counties. Precipitation chances will also increase for the
Spring Mountains with a 20-30% chance by weeks end. It`s even
possible that the higher elevations above 8000 could see some
accumulating snow.
&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...Southwest winds will develop late this
afternoon with gusts 15-18 knots. Gusts will diminish after sunset
while light southwest components continue overnight. East-southeast
components 6-8 knots can be expected late Friday morning through the
afternoon. SCT-BKN clouds above 20kft through Friday will clear out
Friday evening.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California..Southwest winds gusting 15-18 knots will develop at TAF
sites in the Las Vegas Valley and the lower Colorado River Valley at
IFP and EED late this afternoon then gusts will diminish after
sunset and speeds will remain below 10 knots for these sites through
Friday. Persistent west winds will occur at KDAG through Friday with
gusts 20-25 knots in the late afternoon and early evening hours. VFR
conditions prevail across the area as SCT-BKN clouds aoa 15kft
persist through Friday afternoon.
&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.
&&

$$

SHORT TERM/LONG TERM...Gorelow
AVIATION...Adair

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