A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for a large portion of the United States, stretching from New Mexico through the Great Plains and into the Tennessee Valley. The biggest impacts will stay well east of Southern Nevada, but a few scattered showers and gusty northerly winds are forecast around the Las Vegas Valley Friday and Saturday.
What to expect locally
Thursday-Friday: A weather system will bring slight chances of light rain to Southern Nevada and northwest Arizona. Rain amounts will be minimal, generally a few hundredths of an inch or less, and mainly confined to higher terrain. Some light snow is possible in the Spring Mountains above 7,500 feet, but amounts will remain light. The forecast high is 63° in Las Vegas on Friday.
Saturday: The most impactful weather arrives with gusty northerly wind between 20 and 30 mph Saturday afternoon, with higher gusts possible in the mountains and along the Colorado River Valley. Expect increased wave heights (1-3 feet) on area lakes. Along with the wind, we’ll still have the chance for a few scattered showers, especially in the morning. The forecast high in Las Vegas is 60°.
Sunday and beyond: Sunday will be the coolest day of the stretch with a forecast high of 56°. We’ll keep it dry with some passing clouds at times next week. High temperatures are expected to rebound into the mid to low 60s by the middle of next week.
The big picture: Dangerous winter storm east of the Rockies
While Southern Nevada stays relatively dry, a dangerous and widespread winter storm is impacting much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains.
What’s happening across the nation
Freezing rain and heavy snow are the primary concerns from Texas through the Lower Mississippi Valley into the Carolinas and southern Mid-Atlantic. Cold arctic air is clashing with abundant moisture from the south, creating a high-impact winter storm…