Las Vegas gets slight reprieve from 105-degree weather

By KIMBER LAUX and RICARDO TORRES LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

A portion of the Las Vegas Strip is seen as skies begin to clear up above the valley on Saturday, July 4, 2015. There’ a good chance that scattered showers and low clouds will clear out by this afternoon, giving way to clear skies and high temperatures of about 105 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Bizu Tesfaye on Twitter @bizutesfaye

The Stratosphere tower is seen as skies begin to clear up above the valley on Saturday, July 4, 2015. There’ a good chance that scattered showers and low clouds will clear out by this afternoon, giving way to clear skies and high temperatures of about 105 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Bizu Tesfaye on Twitter @bizutesfaye

Las Vegas melted through a 22nd day of 105-degree and higher temperatures Friday.

There wasn’t a record 23rd day on Saturday.

Despite a prediction that the Fourth of July would see a high of 107, which would have broken a record set in 2000, the highest temperature reached at the National Weather Service’s official monitoring site at McCarran International Airport was a mere 102 degrees.

The “cooler” weather was caused by some sprinkles and cloud cover over much of the valley most of the day.

The lower temperatures were a relief for parade attendees in Summerlin and Boulder City and for families barbecuing and being outdoors with their families during the holiday.

The heat wave that dominated most of June and early July killed at least one person, the Las Vegas Review-Journal learned Saturday.

The Clark County coroner’s office said Joshua Warren Douglas Davis, 30, died from environmental heat exposure. His body was found Wednesday in the Arts District downtown Las Vegas.

The coroner’s office on Saturday couldn’t say if more people have died because of the heat, but the Weather Service said the reprieve from 105 degrees and above will continue until at least next weekend.

McCarran International airport reported a trace of rain Saturday morning and callers from Mount Charleston reported about 8 a.m. that it was raining on the mountain, meteorologist Chad Shafer said.

The valley is expected to see a nighttime low of about 86 degrees, Shafer said. Then the valley will begin a cooldown, at least by Las Vegas standards.

Sunday is expected to see high temps about 103 degrees and lows about 85 at night. Monday should see highs about 103 and nighttime lows about 82 degrees.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the highs should reach about 104, 103 and 101, respectively, Shafer said. Friday’s high temperature is forecast to be 100 degrees.

Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber. Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites.