FXUS65 KVEF 141925 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 1225 PM PDT Tue Apr 14 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * Clear skies and warming temperatures expected through tomorrow before gusty winds and cool temperatures return late-week. && .DISCUSSION...Through Monday. Temperatures will increase a few more degrees today and tomorrow as heights aloft increase. Tomorrow's highs will be within a few degrees of normal for mid-April, which for Las Vegas means highs in the low 80s. A change in the weather pattern arrives on Thursday as an area of closed low pressure, currently located off the coast of British Columbia, dives southeast into the Great Basin. The primary concern with this system is wind. Southwesterly prefrontal winds ramp up in the Mojave Desert while northwesterly postfrontal winds start to increase in the southern Great Basin on Thursday morning. These winds include gusts between 35 and 45 mph, the strongest of which should occur over high terrain. Winds remain elevated and gradually shift north on Thursday night as the front moves south. The strongest winds with this system are expected to occur on Friday in the Colorado River Valley as a favorable north to south pressure gradient develops. There is a greater than 80 percent probability of wind gusts reaching 40 mph in that area and a 40 to 50 percent probability of gusts reaching 58 mph in a localized area near Bullhead City. Will continue to monitor model trends and assess the need and timing of wind-related headlines. Besides wind, cold air and lowering heights aloft bring a 10 to 15 degree temperature decrease between Wednesday and Friday. Most moisture associated with this system remains the north of the forecast area, but there is a 20 to 40 percent probability of light precipitation in Lincoln County on Thursday and early Friday. Snow levels fall to between 2000 and 3000 feet on Thursday night as cold air moves in, meaning a dusting of snow cannot be ruled out. Temperatures will rebound and dry conditions return as ridging builds again this weekend, but breezy southerly winds may continue for some of the area. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Through Wednesday morning, winds will generally follow typical daily directional patterns with speeds remaining under 8KT. Late morning, winds are expected to settle out of the south around 8-10KT, before veering to the southwest and becoming elevated and at least intermittently gusty toward the end of the forecast period. VFR conditions prevail, though FEW-SCT clouds around 8-10kft are expected this afternoon, clearing out tonight, with increasing mid-level and high clouds expected across the area Wednesday afternoon. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...The next 24 hours, winds across the region will generally follow typical daily directional patterns with speeds around 5-10KT. The main exception will be across the western Mojave Desert, including KDAG, where westerly winds will hover between 10-15KT through early Wednesday morning. Otherwise, VFR conditions prevail with FEW-SCT clouds around 8-12kft this afternoon expected to gradually lift and clear out overnight. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ DISCUSSION...Meltzer AVIATION...Phillipson For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter