784
FXUS65 KVEF 021148
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
348 AM PST Fri Jan 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Fog will remain in some areas of the Mojave Desert through the
  morning leading to reduced visibility.

* Episodes of light rain and high elevation snow to continue through
  the weekend.

* 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 Friday.

Conditions early this morning are characterized by light winds, high
humidity from recent rainfall, and cool temperatures. Dew point
depressions are generally between zero and three degrees for most
valley locations. This environment is conducive for fog development
and is expected to remain favorable for fog through sunrise.
Automated sensors at Las Vegas, Barstow/Daggett, and Lake Havasu
City have already reported visibility of less than 1/2 mile tonight,
and dangerously low visibility has been observed on highway cameras
around the area. Use caution while driving during the early morning
commute.

Today`s forecast calls for dry and pleasant conditions thanks to a
shortwave ridge over the region. However, this calm will be short
lived as low pressure drops south along the Pacific Coast, sending
moist southwesterly flow into the Southwest U.S. PWATs reach the 150
to 200 percent of normal range over the weekend as the plume of
moisture moves through. Precipitation amounts are modest, with
probabilities of reaching .1 inch in 24 hours between 10 and 30
percent in most desert valleys. Higher amounts are expected in Owens
Valley, the southern Great Basin, and along area mountains. Snow
levels fall from 7500-8500 feet on Saturday to 6500-7500 feet on
Sunday as heights aloft decrease through the day. Given the light
precipitation amounts overall, snow totals are unimpressive and
winter related impacts are not expected. The first round should
occur on Saturday, followed by a lull on Saturday Night, then
another round on Sunday.

Additional disturbances move along the southwesterly flow pattern as
the low tracks east, bringing additional chances for precipitation.
Moisture becomes more limited as this happens and daily
precipitation totals should be light. During the second half of the
week, a trough will dig south into the western United States,
bringing cold air potential for windy conditions and wintry
precipitation. Details regarding intensity are somewhat unclear at
this time as there remains a good amount of variability between
models.
&&


.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package... Dense,
patchy fog continues to be a concern in the Las Vegas Valley through
mid-morning, with periods of visibility reductions between 5 and 6
SM expected. 40 percent chance of visibilities dropping below 5 SM
at times through the morning. SCT-BKN aoa 5 kft will persist through
the day before BKN-OVC high clouds enter the region this evening.
Winds will be light and diurnal through the TAF period.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona and
southeastern California...For the 12Z Forecast Package... Dense,
patchy fog continues to be a concern at all TAF sites this morning,
with periods of visibility reductions below 6 SM. KDAG has remained
between 1/4 and 2 SM visibility throughout the overnight period and
will continue to experience these significant reductions through mid-
morning. FEW-SCT aoa 5 kft will continue through the day, with BKN-
OVC high clouds moving into the region from west-to-east. Winds will
be light and diurnal through the TAF period.
&&


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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Meltzer
AVIATION...Soulat

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