High Wind Warning 1, NWS Las Vegas, NV

277 
WWUS75 KVEF 062132
NPWVEF

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
132 PM PST Sun Jan 6 2019

CAZ519-520-071400-
/O.CON.KVEF.HW.W.0001.190107T0000Z-190107T1500Z/
Eastern Sierra Slopes-Owens Valley-
Including Aspendell, Whitney Portal, Bishop, 
Independence, Lone Pine, and Olancha
132 PM PST Sun Jan 6 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM PST MONDAY...

* TIMING...Wind speeds are expected to increase this evening and
  peak overnight before gradually diminishing through Monday
  morning.

* WINDS...West 40 to 70 mph with gusts up to 90 mph near the
  Sierra ridgetops. Strongest winds are expected mainly west of
  Highway 395. 

* IMPACTS...Hazardous travel is possible for high profile vehicles
  due to strong crosswinds, especially along the Highway 395
  corridor. Minor structural damage is also possible near the
  Sierra foothills. 
  

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drivers, especially of high profile vehicles, should use caution
and remain alert for sudden wind gusts or strong cross winds.
Monitor our website at weather.gov/lasvegas for further updates
on the hazardous situation.

&&

$$

617 
WWUS75 KVEF 071348
NPWVEF

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
548 AM PST Mon Jan 7 2019

CAZ519-520-071500-
/O.CAN.KVEF.HW.W.0001.000000T0000Z-190107T1500Z/
Eastern Sierra Slopes-Owens Valley-
Including Aspendell, Whitney Portal, Bishop, 
Independence, Lone Pine, and Olancha
548 AM PST Mon Jan 7 2019

...HIGH WIND WARNING IS CANCELLED...

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has cancelled the High
Wind Warning. 

Winds have come down significantly over the eastern slopes of the
southern Sierra and the Owens Valley over the last two to three
hours. Therefore, the High Wind Warning has been cancelled. 

$$

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
735 PM PST Sat Jan 5 2019

.SYNOPSIS...A Pacific storm system will move through the region
tonight spreading widespread rain and mountain snow across the
area. Improving conditions are expected Sunday afternoon but
lingering shower activity is likely in the Sierra and Northwest
Arizona. Generally dry and seasonable conditions are expected next
week but a return to active weather is likely by next weekend.

&&

.UPDATE...
Light rain has spread across much of southern Nevada with many
locations seeing rainfall totals of less than a tenth of an inch so
far. This trend is expected to continue overnight with snow levels
generally around 5000 feet. Total rain amounts in the valleys should
generally remain less than a quarter of an inch with 3-7 inches of
snow in the higher terrain. Conditions should improve late Sunday
morning with most of the showers spreading east of the area. There
will still be some isolated snow showers in the mountains during the
day.

&&

PREV DISCUSSION
210 PM PST Sat Jan 5 2019

.SHORT TERM...through Monday.

Radar echoes are on the increase this afternoon though substancial
dry air remains in place. Dewpoint depressions on the order of 20-30
degrees are common across the deserts, which means predominantly
virga or sprinkles are all that have occured yet. However, higher
elevations on the Sierra and Spring Mountains have begun to see some
snowfall, with flurries reported at Kyle Canyon and about 2 inches
of snow reported at Aspendell. Conditions will continue to
deteriorate tonight as the low levels trend towards saturation and
stronger dynamic forcing moves through. Overall, the forecast
message remains the same with light rainfall likely across the
Desert Valleys, and light to moderate snow accumulations in
elevations above 5000 feet.

Speaking of snow, this mornings forecast models have come in a
little more bullish with precipitation amounts in the Spring
Mountains, with a more concentrated band of precip expected to be
intercepted by the mountain range. As such, I added the Spring
Mountains to the Winter Weather Advisory for tonight, with 3 to 7
inches expected near Lee and Kyle Canyons. I also added Lincoln
county where snow amounts will be a little more borderline, but
sufficient to cause some travel difficulties on Highway 93.

The trough axis will push eastward tomorrow with precipitation
tapering off during the morning hours. Considerable low level
moisture promises to hang around through the day however, so
widespread partly to mostly cloudy skies can be expected.

Looking further west, another slug of Pacific moisture will take
aim at Central California and be intercepted by the Sierra crest.
This will lead to another opportunity for several more inches of
snow in the Sierra and near Aspendell. Synoptically, there is some
indication of the potential for strong, downslope winds in the
lee of the Sierra and western Owens Valley Sunday night as the
right front quadrant of a powerful jet aims at the Sierra whilst
stability increases as heights rise aloft. However, the abundance
of precipitation on the windward side of the Sierra will likely
dampen any mountain wave features downstream, and as such, I do
not have much confidence in widespread downslope wind potential.
We'll continue to monitor, but for now I just extended the winter
weather advisory and mentioned strong winds along the Sierra
ridges through Monday morning.

&&

.LONG TERM...Tuesday through Saturday.

A progressive weather pattern remains in place through the coming
week which will allow additional Pacific Troughs to move inland.
However, potential impacts have been minimized for the Wednesday-
Thursday system and confidence is low in the details of another
storm forecast to move across the Southwest States next Saturday.

A weak trough is forecast to lift across Northern/Central
California and Northwest Nevada late Tuesday and Wednesday. The
models are now in pretty good agreement with this track which will
mainly bring precip chances to the southern Sierra and west
central Nevada with little chance for the rest of our forecast
area. Pop values have been reduced accordingly. Another Eastern
Pacific Trough is then on track to move inland late Friday and
Saturday and the latest models indicate a track across SoCal into
Arizona. If this were to hold, it would be a decent precipitation
maker for the southern half of our forecast area, but confidence
is low at this time. Temperatures will be a little above normal
through the week with a possible downturn with the system next
weekend.

&&

.AVIATION...For McCarran...A Pacific Low will continue to push
eastward this evening and tonight, bringing occasional light rain to
the area. Not much change from the previous TAF forecast. Still
expecting shower activity to increase after sunset, with light rain
most likely between 04Z through about 10Z Sunday. Low clouds are
likely with the rain, lowering to around 5kft at times. BKN clouds
may drop to around 3kft for a time around midnight. Lower cigs will
linger a bit after the scattered precipitation moves out, but
improving conditions are expected Sunday afternoon.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...A Pacific storm will spread low ceilings and widespread
rain and snow across the region early this evening and overnight.
Extensive mountain obscuration and MVFR with local IFR conditions
can be expected between 00Z and 12Z Sunday with BKN-OVC ceilings
generally 3-5 kft AGL. Showers should end in most locations by
Sunday morning, except in Lincoln and northwest Mohave counties
where snow showers should linger into the afternoon. Improving
conditions are expected starting Sunday morning from west to east as
the system exits the region.

&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Outler
LONG TERM....Adair
AVIATION...Wolf

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