Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV

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531 FXUS65 KVEF 150927 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 227 AM PDT Sun Sep 15 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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A large low pressure system dropping down from the northwest into California and Nevada will bring widespread gusty south to southwest winds to the region today through Monday along with a significant cooling trend. A second trough of low pressure will move across the area midweek bringing a reinforcing shot of cool air along with scattered showers.
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&& .SHORT TERM...
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Today through Monday night. Widespread south-southwest winds gusting 35 to 45 mph will be the main weather concern across most of our forecast area later today through Monday as a large closed low digs from the Pacific Northwest into central California tonight then moves over Nevada Monday and Monday night. Gusts 30 to 35 mph will be common across the region this afternoon then a belt of gusts over 40 mph will likely develop across the western Mojave Desert, Death Valley and Nye County this evening and persist overnight and Monday. Wind Advisories are in effect for these zones from 7 PM PDT this evening until 8 PM Monday evening. The HREF and NBM indicate occasional gusts over 40 mph will likely spread across much of northeast San Bernardino, Clark, Lincoln and Mohave counties Monday morning through early Monday evening. Wind Advisories are in effect for these zones from 10 AM PDT Monday morning through 8 PM Monday evening. The slow moving nature of the system should make this a fairly low-impact event, but it is the first widespread gradient wind event with gusts over 40 mph of the fall season. This will usher in a 10-15 degree cooling trend with temperatures falling into the lower 80s in Las Vegas on Monday and lows dipping to 55-60 degrees in the Las Vegas Valley Monday night. A secondary concern is that limited moisture with the system near the cold pool could also result in a dusting of snow in the Sierra and White Mountains above 9,000 feet Monday and Monday night. Scattered light showers and an isolated thunderstorm will also be possible across northern Inyo, Esmeralda and central Nye counties Monday. The latest HREF indicates that moisture that had worked its way up the lower Colorado River Valley and southern Mohave County will be too shallow and will be swept east of Mohave County today before convection has a chance to develop so the chance of showers or thunderstorms has diminished below 10 percent for that area. .LONG TERM...Tuesday through Saturday Lighter winds are expected by Tuesday as the tight pressure gradient and low level jet moves east along with the trough. However, the system will leave cold air over the region in its wake. Morning lows on Tuesday will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal for mid September. Another deep low will drop down from the Pacific Northwest into the Great Basin midweek. It should provide some reenforcement for cool temperatures, keeping highs around 10 degrees below normal through the end of the workweek. Some guidance is not showing a strong wind signal with this system, but others highlight the potential for elevated winds. This will depend on the placement of the trough and where the tightest pressure gradient will form. Lastly, moisture advection with the system will bring increased precipitation chances midweek, particularly in the southern Great Basin. As this system exits towards the end of the week, Pacific high pressure moves in behind it and should boost temperatures for next weekend.
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&& .AVIATION...
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For Harry Reid...Gusty winds will return to the Las Vegas Valley late this morning into early this afternoon. Wind direction will vary from 160 to 200 through the afternoon with gust speeds between 20 and 30 kts (20 percent chance of exceeding 30 kts). Wind direction will become west-southwesterly after sunset with a high probability (over 70%) of occasional gusts continuing overnight. Monday will be characterized by gusty southwest winds through the entire day. No operationally significant cloud cover through the TAF period. For the rest of southern Nevada, southeastern California, and northwestern Arizona...Gusty south winds will pick up across the region this afternoon with gust speeds between 20 and 30 kts. The exception is KDAG, which will prevail from the west. Gust speed and frequency will diminish after sunset, but occasional gusts to 20 kts should be expected through the overnight period. Hazy skies may reduce slantwise visibilities in the Daggett and Beatty corridors from ongoing southern California wildfires. No operationally significant cloud cover expected through the TAF period.
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&& .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ SHORT TERM...Adair LONG TERM...Meltzer AVIATION...Soulat For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter