High Wind Watch 1, NWS Las Vegas, NV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
628 PM PST Fri Mar 11 2022

.SYNOPSIS...A warming trend will continue through Saturday as an
area of high pressure moves over the region. A disturbance brushing
the Great Basin Sunday will stir up winds Sunday afternoon followed
by fairly tranquil conditions Monday under a brief ridge. By the
middle of next week, another system takes aim at the region, but
impacts remain uncertain.
&&

.UPDATE...Quiet and clear conditions tonight as an upper-level ridge
begins to build in. This weekend is shaping up to be a nice one,
with temperatures near normal for this time of year. West breezes
begin to increase on Sunday as a system glances our area. Gusty
winds will be possible in western San Bernardino County and the
Owens Valley. Otherwise, quiet weather with warming temperatures
until a mid-week system moves through. Precipitation chances
currently look low with this system, but breezy winds and a return
to near-normal temperatures are expected. Overall forecast remains
on track.
&&

.SHORT TERM...Through Sunday.

An amplified ridge of high pressure could be seen on satellite loops
off the West Coast and this feature will move inland over the next
24 hours leading to a warming trend with highs climbing 6-8 degrees
Saturday. The ridge will quickly move across the Rockies Saturday
night ahead of fast moving trough swinging into the Pacific
Northwest then dipping down over Nevada and Utah Sunday. This will
produce increasing west or northwest winds Sunday afternoon and
Sunday night. Impacts will be minor as speeds look to be generally
15-25 mph across most of the region although gusts to 35 mph can be
expected around Barstow and stronger winds will develop over the
southern southern Sierra. Will need to keep an eye on downslope wind
potential in the Owens Valley, but for now indications are that
stronger winds will be confined to the higher peaks. Temperatures
will climb another 5 degrees or so on Sunday as winds pick up during
the afternoon.

.LONG TERM...Monday through Friday.

A typical springtime progressive pattern will persist as another
ridge quickly moves inland and migrates over the western states
Monday and Monday night. This will be followed by a fairly broad low
amplitude trough that is forecast to be over our region by Tuesday
afternoon then deepens Wednesday as additional energy drops down
from the northwest. The medium range ensembles do diverge somewhat
with the timing and depth of the trough by Wednesday. In any case,
impacts appear fairly minor for our forecast area and mainly in the
form of breezy to windy conditions and a dip in temperatures
Wednesday into Thursday. A few showers will be possible around the
southern Sierra and central Nevada zones, but moisture should be
quite limited. Another ridge is forecast to move over the
region on Friday.
&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...No operationally significant weather
related impacts are expected through Saturday. Winds will remain
light, 10 knots or less; and are expected to follow typical diurnal
trends with brief periods of light and variable winds possible
during transitional periods. Skies will remain clear.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...With the exception of KEED and KIFP, winds at the
remaining TAF sites are expected to remain relatively light, 10
knots or less, and will follow typical diurnal trends. Winds at KEED
and KIFP will favor a more northerly direction with afternoon gusts
around 25-35 knots likely. These gusty north winds will persist
throughout the afternoon and into the early evening hours before
dropping off around 02 - 03Z. Overnight sustained winds at both of
these TAF sites are expected to be in the 10-15 knot range with KIFP
favoring a northerly direction while KEED favors a more
northwesterly direction.
&&

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

UPDATE...Woods
SHORT TERM/LONG TERM...Adair
AVIATION...Stessman

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