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000
FXUS65 KVEF 241955
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
100 PM PDT Mon Jul 24 2017

.SYNOPSIS...A significant push of monsoon moisture will spread
northward today bring the threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms to
much of the area over the next couple of days. The greatest threat
will occur today and Tuesday afternoon before a drying trend begins
mid to late week. &&


.SHORT TERM...Today through Wednesday

Heavy thunderstorms have developed this afternoon concentrated along
the Spring Mountains west of Las Vegas. Some of these storms have
produced rainfall rates over 2 inches per hour, and additional
thunderstorm development is likely though the afternoon.
Meanwhile...vorticity maxima moving northwest from central Arizona
will arrive in our forecast area this evening to be located near
Lake Mead around 5 pm. This will serve as an additional mechanism
of upward motion and a focus for additional thunderstorm
development. This disturbance will continue northward tonight and
scattered to numerous thunderstorms are likely to persist across
Lincoln, Northern Mohave and Clark counties.  Given the extremely
moisture rich airmass, thunderstorms will be possible both day and
night, and it wont take much to trigger thunderstorm activity even
during the very early morning hours.  Several convective allowing
models are suggesting an uptick in convective activity early Tuesday
morning across the I-15 corridor from Las Vegas to St George...and
given the very anomalous moisture in place as well as slow storm
motion....decided to extend the Flash Flood Watch for those areas
through Tuesday evening to account for potential flood impacts
tomorrow morning and afternoon. Have left San Bern and southern
Mohave counties out of the watch extension at this time.

On Wednesday....things will tend to dry out as a weak southwest flow
gradually dries out the mid and upper levels of the atmosphere. Low
level moisture will remain above normal however and scattered
afternoon and evening storms will remain a possibility for much of
the region, but coverage and intensity will trend less.

Temperatures today and tomorrow will struggle to beat triple digits
in areas where rain and clouds are abundant, but will return closer
to normal on Wednesday. Further West, across Inyo and Western San
Bern counties, near to slightly above normal temperatures can be
expected each day.

.LONG TERM...Thursday through Saturday.

Gradual drying and warming is expected for Thursday as weak
southwest flow returns to the region. Enough moisture is likely to
remain in place for afternoon showers/storms over favored high
terrain.

By Friday, high pressure once again pushes back to a favorable
location near the Four Corners, allowing for a moist southeasterly
flow into the region. However, this is where guidance begins to
diverge, with the GFS keeping the high and favorable flow well into
the weekend while the ECMWF is significantly different, pushing the
high to near Reno and keeping much of the moisture to the south of
Las Vegas. For now I`ve split the difference, increasing dew points,
and  PoPs over the area, but with a emphasis on areas south of Las
Vegas.
&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur over
much of the region today with any storm capable of producing very
heavy rainfall. Although storms will be possible in Inyo County
today, those are expected to be more isolated. However, areas of far
southeastern Inyo could see more scattered storms. Conditions will
gradually dry out midweek onward, with thunderstorms decreasing in
coverage each day. Temperatures will be near normal to somewhat
below normal through Wednesday, before returning to slightly above
normal late in the week.
&&

.HYDROLOGY...
Creeks, streams and rivers in northern Inyo County have shown
decreasing flows over the last couple of days. However, some road
closures continue in the area. Bishop Creek Bypass and Big Pine
Creek Bypass continue to be utilized to minimize flows through
Bishop and Big Pine. Remember, never drive through flooded
roadways or around barricades. Also, pastureland or farmland
adjacent to creeks, streams or rivers could experience areas of
standing water.
&&

.AVIATION...For McCarran...Showers and thunderstorms may frequently
cause gusty and erratic winds through Tuesday. Outside of that,
winds should favor a southeasterly direction around 10 knots with
gusts to 18 knots at times. Showers and thunderstorms will be around
at times through Tuesday with night time activity possible in
additions to the usual afternoon and evening activity. Cigs above 10
kft prevailing but could drop to 7 kft with storm over the terminal.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to
impact much of the region through Tuesday with potentially heavy
rainfall. Cigs will generally be around 10-12k feet, but could fall
to as low as 5k feet in heavier storms. Winds will generally be from
the south to southeast at 10-15 knots with gusts to 20 knots, but
more gusty and erratic near any storms.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather and especially flood impacts the next
several days as an active monsoon pattern unfolds.

&&

$$

Short Term...Outler
Fire Weather...Gorelow
Aviation...Harrison
Long Term...Wolcott

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