Las Vegas is trading its calm winter sunshine for a wet and windy holiday. Sunday morning started off quietly at the official airport weather station, with clear skies and temperatures near 52°F. A mild afternoon is still on tap, with highs around 69°F and southeast breezes building through the day. But the calm breaks Monday, when rain showers and much stronger southerly winds are expected to move in during the Presidents Day holiday.
Monday Into Tuesday: Rain And Gusty Southerly Winds
Rain showers are expected to develop across the valley by late Monday morning and continue into Monday night, with daytime highs near 69°F. The National Weather Service Las Vegas has issued a Wind Advisory for the valley and nearby Mojave areas from about 10 a.m. Monday into the early hours of Tuesday. Forecasters are calling for sustained south winds of 20-30 mph and gusts that could reach 35-45 mph.
Those gusts will be strong enough to blow around unsecured outdoor items and make driving tricky for high-profile vehicles. In other words, this is the day to secure that patio furniture and give yourself extra time if you are heading out on holiday routes.
Mountain Snow And Travel Impacts
The higher terrain will take the brunt of this system. The Spring Mountains, White Mountains and parts of the Eastern Sierra are forecast to pick up periods of heavy mountain snow beginning Monday. Snow levels should start out near 6,000-7,000 feet, then drop later in the week.
That setup has already prompted winter storm watches and warnings for the higher elevations and could lead to slick, icy roads in the mountains and along routes into the Sierras. Clark County is urging visitors to check conditions, call 511 or visit nvroads.com before traveling to Mt. Charleston and to consider postponing nonessential trips.
Holiday Travel And What To Do
On the valley floor, expect scattered showers and breezy conditions Monday, with some showers lingering into Tuesday before a drier, cooler pattern settles in later in the week…