More rain, possible snow in mountains forecast for Las Vegas Valley
The Las Vegas Valley is expected to warm up Thursday following a couple of rainy days and snow in the Spring Mountains, the National Weather Service said.
The valley saw just under a quarter-inch of rain, as measured at McCarran International Airport, on Tuesday, and scattered showers were expected to produce a similar amount on Wednesday, the weather service said.
Areas of Mount Charleston received 3 to 6 inches of snowfall by 8 a.m. Wednesday, the weather service said. The 3 inches of snowfall measured in Kyle Canyon by 8 a.m. set a new record for May 2. The previous record of 0.4 inches was recorded on that date in 1991.
Weather officials said another 1 to 2 inches could fall during the remainder of the storms Wednesday. The latest date in the spring or summer months that measurable snow fell on Mount Charleston was June 17, 1995, when 0.5 inches were reported, records show.
The weather service issued a winter weather advisory for the Spring Mountains and Sheep Range north of Las Vegas that will remain in effect until 5 a.m. Thursday. Scattered snow showers could cause unexpected winter weather conditions through the area.
From midnight to 9 a.m. Wednesday, only a trace amount of rain was recorded at the weather service’s weather station at McCarran International Airport. Parts of the southwestern edges of the valley had up to a third of an inch of rain during the same hours.
Officials on Monday had expected only a tenth of an inch of rain for the two-day storm total.
“It’s overperformed in some areas, definitely,” meteorologist Barry Pierce said Wednesday.
Rain in the valley should increase between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and will start to move toward the southern edge of the valley before the storm system passes, the weather service said.
“We’re not out of the woods yet by any means,” Pierce said.
Weather conditions temporarily delayed some inbound flights at airport Wednesday morning, the weather service said.
After 3 p.m. the rain should gradually decrease, and the valley will dry out again by Thursday.
Thursday will kick off a warming trend in the valley with a forecast high near 81, the weather service said. Friday’s forecast high is 88.
Temperatures over the weekend should be well above normal, with forecast highs of 93 on Saturday and 96 on Sunday, the weather service said.
Contact Max Michor at 702-383-0365 or mmichor@reviewjournal.com. Follow @MaxMichor on Twitter. Review-Journal reporter Blake Apgar contributed to this report.
