


Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
Issued by NWS Las Vegas, NV
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029 FXUS65 KVEF 092027 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 126 PM PDT Wed Jul 9 2025 .KEY MESSAGES... * Low humidity and strong winds will result in critical fire weather conditions across the northern portions of Lincoln County into the early evening. * An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect for southern Mohave County and the Colorado River Valley into this evening. * Hot and dry conditions will continue through the weekend and into early next week as ridging persists across the region. && .DISCUSSION...through early next week. A shortwave trough moving across the southern Great Basin will maintain gusty southwesterly winds across southern Nevada this afternoon. These winds, combined with very low humidity levels and dry fuels, are creating critical fire weather conditions across a large portion of Lincoln County. A Red Flag warning remains in effect for this area through 8 PM this evening. For more information, see the Fire Weather discussion below. Temperatures running 5 to 8 degrees above normal continue across the Lower Colorado River Valley and central and southern Mohave County this afternoon. Widespread Major (level 3 to 4) HeatRisk continues in these areas, and an Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect through 8 PM this evening. After today, temperatures in this area are expected to gradually decrease as we head into the weekend, returning to near-normal levels by Saturday. In response to the shortwave mentioned above moving through the Great Basin, we will see the ridge axis shift over the western portion of our forecast area on Thursday and Friday. This will result in a gradual warming trend across our central and western zones as we head into the weekend. This high pressure will persist through the weekend and into next week, allowing for hot and dry conditions to continue across the region. While the southeastern portion of our forecast area will see temperatures gradually "cool" back down to near normal by Saturday, temperatures will rebound as we head into next week due to the persistent ridging. HeatRisk values through the weekend will be Minor to Moderate (levels 1 and 2 out of 4) in most areas. However, a few pockets of Major begin to appear by Monday across the Mojave Desert and in the Colorado River Valley. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Gusty southwest winds of 20 to 25 knots will continue across the valley through the afternoon. A period of lighter winds is likely around sunset, but is expected to increase to 12 to 15 knots by midnight and remain elevated for several hours. By daybreak, light and variable winds should become established. There is moderate confidence that winds will shift to the northwest by late morning tomorrow. While gusts to 20 knots are expected with the initial shift, winds should fall below 8 knots by afternoon. VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period with only a FEW clouds with bases AOA 15kft AGL expected. Temperatures will exceed 100F through 05Z and then between 17Z and 05Z on Thursday. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Conditions at the Las Vegas area TAF sites will be similar to those described above for Harry Reid. Across the Western Mojave, gusts approaching 30KT are expected through the afternoon and evening, with directions favoring a westerly direction. In the Owens Valley, including KBIH, north winds early this afternoon turn more westerly by mid-afternoon as downslope flow off the Sierra develops. Wind will return to a more northerly direction overnight. In the Colorado River Valley, typical south-to-southwest winds are expected throughout the TAF period. VFR conditions will prevail through the forecast period with only a FEW clouds with bases AOA 15kft AGL expected generally north of the I-15 corridor. && .FIRE WEATHER...Dry conditions will persist across southern Nevada with the strongest winds continuing across Lincoln County as a shortwave moves through the Great Basin. Relative humidities across Lincoln County have bottomed out between 7 and 13 percent, and will remain around these values through 8 PM. This low humidity, combined with 15 to 20 mph southwesterly winds gusting up to 30 mph, will maintain critical fire weather conditions across Nevada Fire Weather Zone 461. The Red Flag Warning issued earlier remains in effect through 8 PM this evening. After today, dry conditions will persist, but wind speeds will be lower, with afternoon speeds ranging from 10 to 15 mph. These lower winds will help mitigate fire weather risk into the weekend. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ DISCUSSION...Planz/Stessman AVIATION...Planz FIRE WEATHER...Planz For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter