Mountain still without snow

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000 | 11:34 a.m.

Cloudy skies today and Monday brought just a trace of rain to the Las Vegas Valley and scattered showers to Mount Charleston, which is badly in need of snow for its winter activities.

The forecast for Wednesday through Saturday, however, is for clearing skies in the valley and on the mountain, the National Weather Service office at McCarran International Airport said today.

The weather service forecast for the mountain is for scattered showers today, zero percent chance of precipitation Wednesday and Thursday and variable cloudiness through Saturday. The snow level is near 8,500 feet.

The Las Vegas Valley has not received prolonged sunshine since Friday. The sun did peer through gray cloud cover this morning and for brief periods on Monday. The weather service does not keep records on consecutive sunless days in the desert community.

The forecast for the valley today is mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers and partial clearing in the afternoon. Highs will be in the upper 50s to upper 60s, the weather service said.

Tonight's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with lows in the mid-40s to mid-50s. Partly cloudy skies are expected Wednesday, with highs rising to the lower 60s to lower 70s, the weather service said.

The forecast through Saturday is for dry conditions with the lows in the upper 30s to upper 40s and highs in the mid-50s to mid-60s.