470
FXUS65 KVEF 091905
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
1205 PM PDT Wed Sep 9 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

*  The warming trend peaks on Thursday when the Extreme Heat Warning
   goes into effect. Temperatures cool into and through the weekend.

*  Spotty storm activity will be possible in the Sierra Nevada and
   higher elevations of eastern San Bernardino today.

*  Breezy south-southwesterly wind gusts expected across the region
   Friday through the weekend.

.DISCUSSION...Through Tuesday

A strong high pressure continues to build into the region leading to
mostly clear skies and warming temperatures. Afternoon highs look to
peak around 5 degrees above average with most of the desert valleys
ranging from the upper 90s to around 105 degrees. Areas to the south
of Lake Havasu and around Death Valley will exceed 110. The warmth
will also be felt with well above average overnight lows, around 10
degrees average. This warm overnight combined with even stronger
warming for Thursday afternoon increases overall HeatRisk. As such,
an Extreme Heat Warning has been issued for Thursday and covers
Death Valley, the Las Vegas Valley, Pahrump Valley, Moapa Valley,
Colorado River Valley, southern Mohave County, and southeastern San
Bernardino County. The upper level pattern begins to push a trough
into the area from the Northwest, pushing the high pressure east,
and allowing for a cooling trend starting Friday.

In spite of the strong high pressure, there has been some weak
convection in the southern portions of the CWA with the potential
for some spotty activity in the Sierra Nevada near Bishop. Radar
returns have looked fairly week, and local gauges picking up very
little, so these showers look to not be particularly impactful.
Additional chances will arrive to these areas tomorrow afternoon,
but again don`t look to be impactful.

The late week pattern change will increase the pressure gradient
from the high pressure to the east to the building trough to the
northwest and result in increasing winds. Friday afternoon will
offer breezy to gusty winds that look to ease slightly overnight but
build further in into Saturday with widespread gusts above 30 mph
possible and above 40 mph possible in higher terrain and favored
gaps and passes. Winds look to reduce for Sunday but remain breezy.
Longer term models are starting to favor breezy winds peaking around
25 mph each afternoon into the next work week.


&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Winds
will generally follow typical daily directional patterns, with
easterly to northeasterly winds through the afternoon before turning
southwesterly after sunset. Wind speeds are expected to remain below
10 knots through Thursday morning before turning to the southwest
tomorrow afternoon and increasing to 10 to 15 knots. VFR conditions
are expected through Thursday with FEW to SCT mid- and high-level
clouds moving across the region. Temperatures will exceed 100
degrees between 20Z and 02Z this afternoon and between 19Z and 03Z
Thursday.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Winds will follow
typical daily directional patterns through Thursday morning, with
most locations seeing speeds remain 10 knots or less. The exception
to this will be in the lower Colorado River Valley, where gusty
northerly winds of 20 to 25 knots are expected at KIFP this
afternoon. VFR conditions are expected regionwide through Thursday
with FEW to SCT mid- and high-level clouds moving across the area.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Murdock
AVIATION...Planz

For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:
https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

NWS Las Vegas (VEF) Office