140
FXUS65 KVEF 150228
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
730 PM PDT Tue Apr 14 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Clear skies and warming temperatures expected through tomorrow
  before gusty winds and cool temperatures return late-week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Through Monday.

Temperatures will increase a few more degrees today and tomorrow as
heights aloft increase. Tomorrow`s highs will be within a few
degrees of normal for mid-April, which for Las Vegas means highs in
the low 80s. A change in the weather pattern arrives on Thursday as
an area of closed low pressure, currently located off the coast of
British Columbia, dives southeast into the Great Basin. The primary
concern with this system is wind. Southwesterly prefrontal winds
ramp up in the Mojave Desert while northwesterly postfrontal winds
start to increase in the southern Great Basin on Thursday morning.
These winds include gusts between 35 and 45 mph, the strongest of
which should occur over high terrain. Winds remain elevated and
gradually shift north on Thursday night as the front moves south.
The strongest winds with this system are expected to occur on Friday
in the Colorado River Valley as a favorable north to south pressure
gradient develops. There is a greater than 80 percent probability of
wind gusts reaching 40 mph in that area and a 40 to 50 percent
probability of gusts reaching 58 mph in a localized area near
Bullhead City. Will continue to monitor model trends and assess the
need and timing of wind-related headlines. Besides wind, cold air
and lowering heights aloft bring a 10 to 15 degree temperature
decrease between Wednesday and Friday. Most moisture associated with
this system remains the north of the forecast area, but there is a
20 to 40 percent probability of light precipitation in Lincoln
County on Thursday and early Friday. Snow levels fall to between
2000 and 3000 feet on Thursday night as cold air moves in, meaning a
dusting of snow cannot be ruled out. Temperatures will rebound and
dry conditions return as ridging builds again this weekend, but
breezy southerly winds may continue for some of the area.

&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 06Z Forecast
Package...Light winds of less than 10 knots are expected through the
overnight hours following typical nocturnal drainage patterns.
Southerly winds will increase in the late morning and early
afternoon hours with gusts to 20 knots after 22z. Gusts will ease
after dark with southerly winds continuing. Skies will be mostly
clear tonight before increasing high clouds move in Wednesday
evening.


For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 06Z Forecast Package...Winds across the region
will generally follow typical daily directional patterns with speeds
around 5-10KT into Wednesday morning. By early afternoon Wednesday,
southwesterly winds ramp up across the Las Vegas Valley, with gusts
to 20-22KT expected on at least an intermittent basis. Additionally,
across the western Mojave Desert, including KDAG, westerly winds
will hover between 10-15KT through early morning, with a lull
expected through mid afternoon before gusty winds return. Otherwise,
VFR conditions prevail with skies gradually clearing tonight before
additional high clouds arrive Wednesday evening.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Meltzer
AVIATION...Phillipson/CO

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NWS Las Vegas (VEF) Office