High pressure building in from the east brought late-season heat to the Mojave Desert, breaking daily temperature records and also cumulative heat records for the year. The episode continued into October.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 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.
High pressure building in from the east brought late-season heat to the Mojave Desert, breaking daily temperature records and also cumulative heat records for the year. The episode continued into October.
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 Sep 26, 8:45 AM PST, 15 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 945 AM PDT Thu Sep 26 2024 .SYNOPSIS...Temperatures will continue to increase during the second half of the week with an Excessive Heat Warning going into effect for the Colorado River Valley later this morning and continuing through the weekend. An Excessive Heat Warning will go into effect for Death Valley National Park tomorrow morning and will also run through the weekend. Unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions will continue into next week. && .UPDATE...The forecast is on track this morning, with a 50% chance of Las Vegas reaching 100 degrees today. If this occurs, 2024 will have seen 102 100-degree days. The normal latest 100 in Las Vegas occurs on September 18th. The record latest 100 in Las Vegas occurred on October 4th, 1947. Excessive Heat Warning will go into effect at 10am PDT for the Colorado River Valley including Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Havasu, Laughlin, Bullhead City, Needles, and Fort Mohave and will continue through Sunday (this may be extended as we continue to evaluate). Death Valley will be added to this Excessive Heat Warning tomorrow. No changes made to the forecast this morning. && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...115 AM PDT Thu Sep 26 2024/ .SHORT TERM...through Saturday. The upper-level ridge responsible for these unseasonably hot temperatures will slowly migrate back to the west, moving overhead on Friday and Saturday. This will allow for the persistence of above normal temperatures through the weekend with temperatures increasing each day through Saturday. These increasing temperatures mean increasing HeatRisk, with widespread Major HeatRisk in the Colorado River Valley today. Pockets of Extreme HeatRisk will pop up in the Colorado River Valley over the weekend as temperatures peak and the cumulative effects of multiple days of excessive heat take their toll. The lower elevations of Death Valley will see widespread Major HeatRisk on Friday, with widespread Extreme HeatRisk over the weekend. Given the prolonged duration of Major-to-Extreme HeatRisk, an Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for Death Valley National Park from Friday morning through Sunday night. Speaking of Excessive Heat Warnings, the Excessive Heat Warning for the Colorado River Valley has been extended through Sunday night as temperatures will continue to remain around 8 to 12 degrees above normal. Saturday still looks to be the hottest day of the forecast period and those planning on recreating outdoors should make sure to take proper precautions to minimize the risk of adverse heat impacts. Shifting outdoor activities to avoid the heat of the day (i.e., 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM) is recommended. If you are unable to avoid being outdoors during the heat of the day, make sure to remain well hydrated with water and sports drinks. Wearing lightweight and light- colored clothing, hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are additional actions you can take to help mitigate adverse heat-related impacts. .LONG TERM...Sunday through next Thursday A slight change to the upper air pattern may bring a little relief from the heat next week. The upper level ridge remains in place over the Four Corners, but the intrusion of a closed low off the southern California coast should force lower heights aloft. This in turn should decrease temperatures at the surface by a few degrees. Moderate (Level 2) HeatRisk is spread across the desert valleys into the middle of next week, but there are signs that Major (Level 3) to Extreme (Level 4) HeatRisk in Death Valley and the Colorado River Valley may start to wane on Tuesday and Wednesday. The probability of reaching 100 degrees in Las Vegas falls from 90 percent on Sunday to 50 percent on Monday, then gradually decreasing each day through next week. Besides heat, light winds and dry conditions will prevail. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...Easterly wind 8 kts or less between later this afternoon into early evening. Otherwise, the wind will be less than 6 kts and favor typical diurnal directions. High temperatures will eclipse 100 degrees each afternoon through the weekend. No significant clouds or weather expected through Saturday. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Diurnal wind regime generally 10 knots or less expected at regional TAF sites through Friday. No significant clouds or weather expected through Friday. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && UPDATE...Soulat SHORT TERM...Stessman LONG TERM...Meltzer AVIATION...Pierce For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 excessive heat. Local standard time, as filed.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached on each of the last five days of September. The event continued into October.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached on each of the last four days of September. The event continued into October.
Excessive Heat Warning criteria were reached on each of the last four days of September. The event continued into October.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2024Every state in 2024This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, September 2024
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: 1216229, 1216230, 1216231.