Drying trend begins in valley

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2000 | 11:26 a.m.

For the third day in a row, Southern Nevadans woke up this morning to cloudy skies and rare patchy fog hovering over the Las Vegas Valley.

While the threat of an isolated shower lingers today, the drying trend has started, National Weather Service meteorologist Donald Maker said.

After a high of 61 degrees on Monday and rainfall that totaled less than half an inch in the desert valley, today's temperature was expected to reach 68 degrees.

The clouds raised humidity in the city to between 90 percent and 100 percent.

When it reaches 100 percent, that much humidity doesn't mean it's raining, Maker said. There is so much moisture in the atmosphere that water vapor can form on surfaces such as car windows.

Red Rock Canyon, snow-capped Mount Charleston and the Southern Nevada Community College on Cheyenne Avenue all shared a 100 percent humidity reading this morning.

The Las Vegas Valley isn't known for its dewy conditions, he said.

"It doesn't happen very often around here," Maker said.

On Wednesday sunny skies are expected to return to the valley with temperatures reaching into the 70s.

By Friday another chilly weather system could bring a chance of showers through Saturday.