A prolonged excessive heat episode affected nearly all of the lower elevations of the Mojave Desert. The episode continued into September.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.
A prolonged excessive heat episode affected nearly all of the lower elevations of the Mojave Desert. The episode continued into September.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 26, 9:40 AM PST, 1 hour 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
1040 AM PDT Mon Aug 26 2019
.SYNOPSIS...A strong ridge of high pressure will result in mostly
clear skies and hot temperatures through the middle of the week.
There are signs of moisture moving into the area by midweek, which
may limit heat impacts. Dry conditions are expected to persist
through the week along with another potential period of hot
temperatures next weekend.
&&
.UPDATE...No changes were made to the afternoon forecast. Bands of
thin cirrus continued to spread north through the southern Great
Basin, however it should not be thick enough to influence surface
temperatures, so did not adjust high temperatures for this
afternoon. THe excessive heat warning goes into effect this
afternoon, and with current temperatures running a few degrees
warmer than yesterday at this time the warning looks to be in good
shape.
&&
.PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...302 AM PDT Mon Aug 26 2019
.DISCUSSION...Monday through Wednesday.
Heat will be the primary focus through at least midweek with strong
high pressure forecast over the Southwest. Temperatures and heat
risk values indicate a moderate to high risk for heat impacts today
through Wednesday...and potentially beyond. In the Las Vegas Valley
today, the high temperature is forecast to be within 1 degree of the
record and within a couple degrees of the record Tuesday and
Wednesday. Although heat risk values of 3 associated with moderate
heat impacts are just beginning to show today, near record heat in
the Las Vegas Valley and increasing temperatures in Death Valley
National Park, southern Nye County including Pahrump and along the
Colorado River Valley have prompted an upgrade of the Excessive Heat
Watch to a Warning beginning this afternoon. The warning includes
Death Valley National Park where moderate to high heat risk impacts
are localized today but expand and become more widespread Tuesday
and Wednesday. The area is expected to remain dry except for a small
chance of showers in the northern portion of Inyo County Wednesday
afternoon associated with a shortwave moving north along the
California coastline.
Thursday through Sunday.
Strong high pressure is forecast to remain in place through Saturday
before shifting east on Sunday. Heat risk decreases Thursday but
increases again across portions of Clark County and the Colorado
River Valley Friday and especially Saturday. High temperatures in
Las Vegas change little in this period as compared to earlier in the
week generally ranging from 106-108 however low temperatures are
forecast to be lower. Some consideration for an excessive heat
product may be needed for portions of the area late in the week
although conditions could be less favorable. There is some potential
for shower/thunderstorm activity reaching into Mohave County Sunday
afternoon with high pressure shifting to the Four Corners area and
an inverted trough forecast to be south of the forecast area.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...Hot temperatures and relatively light wind
conditions are expected through the week under high pressure.
Exceptionally dry conditions will continue across the southern Great
Basin, while moisture funneled into the Mojave Desert will keep
humidities slightly above critical. Uncertainty exists in deeper
moisture surges and thunderstorm potential for much of the upcoming
week.
&&
.CLIMATE...
Forecast highs will be within 1 to 3 degrees of record values for
Las Vegas and Death Valley today through Wednesday. The following
are the official daily record high temperatures for August 26-28:
TDY 8/26 TUE 8/27 WED 8/28
Las Vegas 109 (2001) 110 (2017) 110 (2017)
Death Valley 122 (2017) 124 (1924) 124 (2011)
&&
.AVIATION...For McCarran...Light and variable winds this morning
will become easterly in the afternoon and should persist until
around sunset with sustained speeds generally 5-8 kts. A typical
light south-southwest component can be expected after sunset through
the overnight hours. Skies will remain mostly clear with only some
thin cirrus times.
For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...Winds generally less than 10 knots can be expected
across the region with only SCT-BKN cirrus over southeast California
and clear skies elsewhere.
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.
&&
DISCUSSION/FIRE WEATHER...Salmen
AVIATION/CLIMATE...Adair
For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:
http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and TwitterThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached in northeast Clark County. The event continued into September.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached in western Clark and southern Nye counties. The event continued into September.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached in the Las Vegas Valley. The event continued into September.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The event continued into September.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached in southern Clark County. The event continued into September.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 2019
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 843795, 843796, 843797, 843798, 843799.