Freeze Warning 4, NWS Las Vegas, NV

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
830 PM PDT Fri Oct 27 2023

.SYNOPSIS...A fall weather system will bring gusty and cool weather
to the region this weekend. A High Wind Watch is in effect for the
Colorado River Valley Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon, as
gusty north winds approach 60 mph. Temperatures gradually increase
back toward seasonal normals next week.
&&

.UPDATE...A band of mainly mid and high level clouds have been
moving across southern Nevada and northwest Arizona this evening
associated with a weak impulse. For the most part nothing much more
than some virga, with the exception of far northeastern Mohave
County where a very brief shower can't be ruled out of the question
for the next couple of hours. Not expected any first freezes of the
season overnight but possible Sunday morning in northern Mohave
County and in southern Nye County on Monday morning.
&&

.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...1258 PM PDT Fri Oct 27 2023
.DISCUSSION...Today through Wednesday.

The First Freeze Warning for the Owens Valley was allowed to expire
on time this morning after hitting 32 degrees before sunrise.
Colorado City's morning low came in at 34 degrees this morning,
which was a few degrees cooler than the forecast, but not quite cool
enough to end the growing season. Morning low temperatures will be
similar Saturday morning across the region, but will drop
substantially Sunday morning as a result of a cold frontal passage.
This cold front will drop temperatures across the southern Great
Basin into the low 20s to upper teens, allowing northern Mohave
County to experience their first freeze of the season. On that same
vein, Kingman Airport has a 20% chance of freezing temperatures
Monday morning, which we will continue to monitor through the
weekend.

In addition to a drop in temperatures, this cold front is going to
increase northerly wind gusts across the forecast area. Saturday
afternoon, north-northwest winds will increase across Inyo and
Esmeralda counties, extending south and eastward through the evening
across the Mojave Desert with gust speeds between 30 and 45 mph.
These north winds will funnel along the Colorado River Valley, and
could exceed 60 mph due to topographic enhancement. A High Wind
Watch is in effect for the Colorado River Valley from Saturday
evening through early Monday morning. These winds will allow wave
heights to range from 2 to 4 feet across Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and
Lake Havasu, with wave heights in excess of 4 feet over deeper
waters. This wave activity will result in hazardous water
conditions, so recreation on area lakes is ill-advised.

In addition to gusty winds and cool temperatures, dry air will move
in behind the cold front. This will result in increased fire danger
across the region. For details, see the FIRE WEATHER section below.

Temperatures will gradually increase next week underneath an upper-
level ridge.
&&

.FIRE WEATHER...Elevated fire concerns expected Saturday through
Monday as a windy, dry weather system moves through the region.
North winds will pick up on Saturday across the southern Great Basin
and western Mojave Desert between 25 and 35 mph with gusts over 40
mph. North winds will pick up Saturday night through Monday along
the Colorado River Valley... ranging from 30 to 40 mph with gusts
approaching 60 mph. Afternoon relative humidities will be in the
teens Sunday and Monday, with overnight recoveries between 20 and 30
percent. A Red Flag Warning is in effect for the Colorado River
Valley from 11am Sunday morning through 11am Monday morning.
&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...Winds will remain light, 10 knots or
less, and will follow typical diurnal directional trends into
Saturday morning. After 18z Saturday, look for winds to become more
northwest with speeds around 10 kts. Gusty north to northeast winds
are expected Sunday generally between 16z-03z gusts around 30-35
kts.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...Winds at KVGT and KBIH will remain light, 10 kts or
less, and will follow typical diurnal directional trends. KHND,
KIFP, and KEED will favor a more southerly direction through the
evening hours. Sustained speeds at KIFP, KEED and KHND will remain
relatively light, 12 knots or less. KDAG will favor a westerly
direction with sustained speeds around 10 knots and late afternoon
gusts around 20 knots.
&&

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

UPDATE...Czyzyk
DISCUSSION...Varian
AVIATION...Gorelow

For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:
https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter