High Wind in Arizona, January 8 to 9, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
330 AM PST Wed Jan 8 2025

.SYNOPSIS...Gusty north winds will continue for the next few days,
with the strongest winds expected to be focused near the Colorado
River Valley. Temperatures will remain near normal through Friday
then trend slightly below normal Sunday onward. Conditions will
remain dry through the period.

&&

.SHORT TERM...through Friday night.

Winds were intensifying early this morning across the Las Vegas
Valley and lower Colorado River Valley after temporarily decreasing
late Tuesday evening. Strong north winds will persist across our
forecast area through mid morning then gradually decrease through
the afternoon across most of the region. The end time of the Wind
Advisory was trimmed back to noon PST/1 PM MST for most of southern
Nevada/northwest Arizona based on the latest high resolution model
guidance. Wind Headlines will remain unchanged and in effect until 4
PM PST/5 PM MST for southeastern California, southern Clark and the
Colorado River Valley zones though wind speeds there will also
gradually decrease through the afternoon.

The reprieve from the winds will be brief this evening and overnight
before increasing again Thursday as a disturbance dives down through
western Utah and Arizona which will also bring considerable high
clouds ahead of it today. This will quickly increase north winds
Thursday morning with gusts 25-35 mph across much of southern Nevada
and northwest Arizona. Gusts over 40 mph will again be likely near
Laughlin-Bullhead City along with southern Clark and eastern San
Bernardino counties. Wind speeds will gradually decrease Thursday
night followed by fairly light winds Friday as a southwest-northeast
oriented ridge develops over Nevada ahead of yet another trough
sliding over Nevada/Utah/Arizona Friday night into Saturday bringing
more north winds. Temperature trends will remain fairly steady with
values remaining within a few degrees of early January normals.

.LONG TERM...Saturday through Tuesday.
Over the weekend, high pressure over the eastern Pacific Ocean will
keep northwest flow across the western United States.   A series of
disturbances will move south along the east side of the ridge
bringing more unsettled weather through the long-term period.  While
the exact timing and strength of these disturbances are uncertain at
this time, the overall pattern points toward cooler-than-normal
temperatures and periods of increased winds, especially in the lower
Colorado River Valley near Laughlin, where there is a greater than
50 percent chance of winds over 30 mph each day through Tuesday.
Additionally, given the track of these systems over interior areas
of the west, moisture will likely be limited, and little, if any,
precipitation is expected.
&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...Gusty northerly winds are expected
to remain in place through Wednesday. Northwest to north winds will
prevail through mid morning with speeds 15 to 25 knots before
shifting more to the northeast by late morning and afternoon. Wind
speeds will remain generally the same through the afternoon 15 to 25
knots, but a few gusts up to 30 knots will be possible at times.
Winds will gradually diminish after sunset this evening with winds
generally around 8 to 10 knots out of the northwest. FEW-SCT clouds
around 25k feet.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...Gusty northwest to north winds are expected to remain
in place overnight with speeds around 15 to 25 knots at HND and VGT
then becoming more northeast by late morning and through the
afternoon. Winds at KBIH have decreased and will remain northwest to
north around 10 knots into this evening. Winds down the Colorado
River Valley will remain strong through the day with both EED and
IFP seeing northerly winds 25 to 35 knots. KDAG will be a bit more
northeast through the day with speeds 12 to 22 knots. FEW-SCT mainly
high clouds around 25k feet.
&&

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

&&

SHORT TERM...Adair
LONG TERM...Planz
AVIATION...Gorelow

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