053
FXUS65 KVEF 031728
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
928 AM PST Sat Jan 3 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Patchy fog will remain possible across parts of the Mojave
  Desert this morning with locally reduced visibility.

* Heavy snow will return to the Sierra Saturday and Sunday with snow
  totals exceeding a foot above 8500 feet.

* Unsettled weather will persist across the Western U.S. through the
  week with periods of breezy conditions and additional rounds of
  light rain and mountain snow.
&&


.DISCUSSION...Today through next weekend.

Current satellite imagery shows low clouds over Mohave, Clark, and
Lincoln counties. Surface observations indicate temperatures within
a few degrees of dew points and surface visibilities under one mile
at Kingman. Given this conducive environment for fog development and
reports of low visibility, have issued a Dense Fog Advisory for
parts of Mohave County including Kingman through most of the
morning. High clouds over the remainder of the southern Great Basin
and southeastern California should hinder fog development in these
areas.

Light precipitation is on track to spread into the area today and
tomorrow as moisture advects in along southwesterly flow. Most of
this should be in the form of light rain and have little impact to
the area. The greater concern is heavier snow in the Sierra where
lift and moisture will be the greatest. Given the warm subtropical
nature of this moisture, snow levels will start off around 8000 feet
today, then lower to around 6500 feet by tomorrow as heights aloft
fall with the incoming low. Moderate to Major winter storm impacts
are expected in the Eastern Sierra including Aspendell and a Winter
Storm Warning remains in effect through early Monday morning.

Additional disturbances will move across the area through midweek. A
trough will drop into the western United States during the second
half of the week. This change should bring colder temperatures and
lower snow levels, although precipitation should remain fairly light
given the dry continental track of the system. Afterwards, dry
northwesterly flow takes hold by next weekend.
&&


.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...No
impactful winds anticipated until Sunday afternoon when the chance
for 10+ knot southwest winds increases to 70%. Otherwise, the main
concern will be the low clouds. CIGs will generally be 3-5kft most
of the period, though there is a window from 02z - 09z where clouds
may scatter out enough to remove the CIG. Sunday morning
precipitation chances have dwindled (now 10%), and thus the VCSH has
been removed. However, clouds should still lower during this time,
with a ~40% chance of CIGs below 2kft.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona and
southeastern California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Northwest
of Interstate 15, expecting southerly breezes of 15-25 knots and 40-
80% precipitation chances. Southeast of I-15, winds should remain
light and rain chances stay below 20%. Low clouds and terrain
obscuration prevail across the region with CIGs generally 3-5kft.
CIGs down to 2kft are possible (30%) where steady precipitation can
develop in our northwestern zones.
&&


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


$$

DISCUSSION...Meltzer
AVIATION...Woods

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