Strong early-season high pressure brought high temperatures in the upper 90s to the lower elevations of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Over the course of two days, one hiker died and 33 others suffered heat-related symptoms on trails between Hoover Dam and Willow Beach.
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.
Strong early-season high pressure brought high temperatures in the upper 90s to the lower elevations of Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Over the course of two days, one hiker died and 33 others suffered heat-related symptoms on trails between Hoover Dam and Willow Beach.
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 Apr 9, 10:52 AM MST, 1 hour 8 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
1052 AM PDT Wed Apr 9 2025
.SYNOPSIS...Warming weather will continue through the remainder of
the week, providing an early taste of summer as temperatures
climb to around 10 to 15 degrees above normal each day. Relief
will arrive in time for the weekend as a passing system impacts
the region, with increasing winds Friday and Saturday, as well as
gradually cooling temperatures this weekend into early next week.
No precipitation is forecast the next seven days.
&&
.UPDATE...Main story continues to be the early-season heat through
Saturday, with temperatures forecast to be 10-20 degrees above
normal. As high pressure shifts east over the weekend, temperatures
begin to come down and winds increase. Minor wind impacts possible
on Saturday as winds reach their strongest point, with best odds
along the I-15 corridor. Pattern uncertainty grows next week with
multiple disturbances in the vicinity, but the going expectation is
continued dry and warm conditions with periods of gusty winds
possible.
.SHORT TERM...through Thursday.
Low amplitude ridge which has built in across the Southwest will
build northward today and tomorrow, allowing for a continuation of
the warming trend and more dry and sunny weather. With heights
gradually rising, temperatures this afternoon will climb a few
degrees higher than temps reached Tuesday, and a few more degrees
by Thursday. This will put most areas in the ballpark of 12 to 18
degrees above normal, and the warmest weather yet of 2025. With
broad high pressure in place, winds will remain generally light,
although a deepening mixed layer will lead to breezy conditions
returning in the afternoons.
LONG TERM...Friday through Tuesday.
Friday will be the warmest day of the forecast period. Highs 15 to
20 degrees above average are expected and numerous daily high
temperature records are threatened at area climate sites - see the
Climate section below for more details. Although heights aloft begin
to decrease with the incoming trough, southwesterly warm air
advection and downslope winds off area mountains should offset any
cooling effects and allow temperatures to rise. Hot daytime
temperatures and warmer than average overnight lows result in
widespread Minor (Level 1 of 4) HeatRisk with pockets of Moderate
(Level 2 of 4) HeatRisk along the Colorado River, Death Valley, and
other areas of lower elevation in the Mojave Desert. This level of
heat primarily affects those that are sensitive to heat, have not
had time to acclimate to increased temperatures, or do not have
access to sufficient cooling or hydration. Remember to stay hydrated
and know where to find the nearest air conditioned space, especially
if spending time outdoors.
The previously mentioned incoming trough will bring notable changes
to winds and temperatures. Southwesterly surface winds begin to pick
up on Friday, but strengthen on Saturday as the trough axis moves
through and 850 mb winds intensify. The strongest winds develop
along a belt spanning San Bernardino, Clark, and Mohave counties.
Winds should weaken on Sunday as the trough continues east and the
pressure gradient relaxes. As heights aloft decrease, surface
temperatures decrease 10 degrees or more between Friday and Sunday,
closer to seasonal averages. Relatively cooler temperatures remain
going into early next week. No precipitation is expected with this
system.
&&
.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Light
winds this morning will give way to east to southeast winds (090-
140) around 20Z. The majority of the guidance keeps speeds less
than 8 knots, but there is a 30 percent chance of seeing a few gusts
to 12kts between 21Z and 01Z. By sunset, winds should turn to the
southwest with speeds of less than 8 knots. No significant cloud
cover will be seen into Thursday.
For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...The Las Vegas area TAF
sites will see conditions similar to what is described above at
Harry Reid. Elsewhere, winds will follow typical diurnal directional
trends with speeds remaining 12 knots or less into Thursday. No
significant cloud cover is forecast.
&&
.CLIMATE...Numerous climate locations have a forecast high
temperature and/or forecast warm low temperature within 3 degrees of
the daily record.
The table below shows the daily record maximum temperature and the
year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which records
are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast).
MAX THU, APR 10 FRI, APR 11
Record (Yr) Record (Yr)
Las Vegas 91 (2014)* 93 (2023)*
Bishop 91 (1989) 86 (2018)*
Needles 103 (1989) 102 (1936)*
Daggett 99 (1989) 93 (2014)*
Kingman 91 (1907)* 96 (1936)
Desert Rock 91 (1989)* 87 (2014)*
Death Valley 110 (1989) 108 (1989)
The table below shows the daily record warm minimum temperature and
the year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which
records are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast).
WARM MIN THU, APR 10 FRI, APR 11
Record (Yr) Record (Yr)
Las Vegas 70 (2002)* 72 (2018)
Bishop 48 (1951) 55 (1989)
Needles 70 (1989) 72 (2014)
Daggett 63 (1989)* 68 (1989)
Kingman 59 (1989) 66 (1989)
Desert Rock 63 (1989) 66 (2018)
Death Valley 80 (1972) 80 (2018)
&&
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.
&&
UPDATE...Woods
SHORT TERM...Outler
LONG TERM...Meltzer
AVIATION...Gorelow
For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:
https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter1 heat. Local standard time, as filed.
One hiker died and 33 others were rescued after suffering heat-related symptoms.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat, Lake Mead National Recreation Area | 2025-04-09 | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arizona in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Arizona, April 2025
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: 1252886.