Strong winds to usher in cold temps in Las Vegas Valley
Strong gusts are expected to batter the Las Vegas Valley on Sunday, followed by a cold spell with low temperatures in some neighborhoods dipping below freezing by Tuesday.
“We’re finally getting a little taste of winter,” National Weather Service meteorologist Barry Pierce said Saturday evening.
But the winds will come first, and the weather service has issued a high-wind warning for the Las Vegas Valley from 10 a.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday.
The valley will see sustained winds between 30 and 40 mph, and “pockets” of the western valley — including Centennial Hills, Summerlin and Mountain’s Edge — may see gusts of between 55 and 65 mph, Pierce said. Other parts of town could see gusts between 45 and 55 mph.
Conditions on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave will deteriorate Sunday. Some of the worst conditions are expected Sunday night. Wave heights of 1 to 3 feet will build to 2 to 4 feet Sunday afternoon and continue through the night. #azwx #nvwx pic.twitter.com/U55294vYTx
— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) February 18, 2018
Pierce recommends storing or tying down loose furniture or objects susceptible to blowing away.
Sunday’s high should reach 71 degrees, but it’s all downhill from there.
“Then the word is cold,” Pierce said.
A spate of chilly days will follow Sunday’s strong winds, which should weaken by Monday morning.
The forecast high for Monday is 50 degrees, followed by a forecast high of 49 for Tuesday.
Overnight lows at McCarran International Airport will drop to 33 on Tuesday and 32 on Wednesday. However, Pierce said, other parts of the valley will likely be even colder.
“There will be some neighborhoods that will probably be in the mid-20s,” he said.
He suggests protecting plants and pipes from the chilly conditions.
❄️It's been 417 days since McCarran airport in #LasVegas dropped below freezing. That streak may be coming to an end this week!…❄️ #VegasWeather pic.twitter.com/GHWTEzPiOM
— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) February 18, 2018
Temperatures at McCarran haven’t dipped below freezing in 417 days, the weather service tweeted.
As the week progresses, temperatures will begin to creep up but will remain below normal, with respective highs of 52, 56 and 59 for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The typical high for this time of year is 63 degrees, Pierce said.
Contact Mike Shoro at mshoro@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Follow @mike_shoro on Twitter. Review-Journal staff writer Briana Erickson contributed to this story.
