Las Vegas and surrounding regions are bracing for a wet and wild couple of days as monsoonal moisture rolls in, bringing a heightened chance of showers and thunderstorms, some packing gusty winds and the potential for flash floods. According to an early morning forecast discussion by the National Weather Service Las Vegas NV, areas of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and far eastern southern California should prepare for increased storm activity starting this afternoon and stretching into the weekend.
This bout of turbulent weather is attributed to a low-pressure system lingering off the Baja California coast, which is funneling moisture into the Southwest. Thunderstorms are set to erupt with “PWATs” — a measure of the depth of moisture in the atmosphere — climbing early this morning. By the afternoon, these values could hit around 1.5 inches as far north as Las Vegas. “Instability will also increase today, with afternoon CAPE values expected to be around 750 J/kg in the Vegas area,” the NWS notes, and “around 1100 J/kg over central and southern Mohave County.” In layman’s terms, this atmospheric cocktail sets the stage for some pretty intense weather, which, in the heaviest of storms could unleash flash floods and winds over 50 mph.
The forecast is not all doom and gloom though, as the pooling moisture will also have the surprising effect of tamping down the heat. Vegas temperatures are predicted to fall below the 100-degree mark today and Friday, with a 60 percent chance that the city will keep its cool, no thanks to normally scorching mid-July standards. As the weekend unfolds and the low-pressure system weakens, the thermostat will gradually rise, but temperatures are expected to hover around normal, offering some respite before the mercury climbs next week…