Weather alerts for the NWS Las Vegas NV forecast area

000
FXUS65 KVEF 281130
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
429 AM PDT Wed Oct 28 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Dry and seasonable conditions continue through Thursday.

* Precipitation chances and cooler temperatures return to the
  region late this week and continue through the weekend.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Today through Tuesday.

Expect a couple more days of pleasant weather before the next system 
moves in towards the end of the week. Zonal flow aloft continues to 
maintain partly to mostly cloudy skies and temperatures within a few 
degrees of normal for late October. This means highs in the upper 
70s for Las Vegas, the low 80s in the Colorado River Valley, and the 
upper 60s to low 70s in Owens Valley. 

An incoming system will bring precipitation, gusty winds, and cooler 
temperatures to the forecast area in a few days. A trough will 
settle off the West Coast starting Thursday, a favorable position to 
draw moisture from Tropical Storm Vance up the Gulf of California 
and into the Desert Southwest. PWATs rise to over 200 percent of 
normal for this time of year. This setup results in precipitation 
chances across northwestern Arizona, parts of southern Nevada, and 
eastern California near the Colorado River as early as Thursday 
night, lasting into Saturday. Heightened instability with CAPE up to 
500 J/kg may lead to particularly efficient rain rates in southern 
Mohave County on Friday afternoon. However, more widespread 
precipitation potential arrives late Saturday through Sunday as the 
trough moves inland, splitting as it tracks east into one low over 
the Pacific Northwest and another over Southern California. The 
southern feature will draw subtropical moisture into the region, but 
trajectory of the moisture will be a major factor in which areas 
receive precipitation. Southwesterly flow and rain shadowing behind 
the San Bernardino Mountains could greatly reduce rainfall for 
sections of the Mojave Desert. Areas further to the east seem to 
have better precipitation chances. Amplitude of the trough itself 
and the presence of embedded shortwaves could also affect storm 
totals. Cold air advection as the trough moves in will send snow 
levels to around 8500 feet, meaning the higher peaks could receive a 
few inches of snow. Gusty northerly winds pick up on Sunday and 
Monday as the system exits, especially in the Colorado River Valley. 
Temperatures will be around 10 degrees below normal over the weekend 
and early next week. 

&&
 
.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Light 
winds following typical diurnal directional trends can be expected 
through Thursday morning. Wind speeds should generally remain 8 
knots or less, although an occasional gust to 15 knots cannot be 
ruled out during the afternoon, with southeast being the favored 
direction. VFR conditions will prevail through the TAF period, with 
SCT to BKN clouds and bases AOA 20kft AGL expected. 

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast 
California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Light winds following 
typical diurnal directional trends are expected through the TAF 
period at most regional terminals. An occasional gust to 20 knots is 
possible during the afternoon in the Las Vegas and Colorado River 
Valleys, while gusts will be limited in other areas. VFR conditions 
will prevail into Thursday, with SCT to BKN clouds with bases AOA 
20kft AGL expected in most areas. The exception will be in the Owens 
Valley, where SCT clouds with bases around 15kft AGL will develop 
tonight.  

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Meltzer
AVIATION...Planz

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