Chance of a white Christmas fades in LV

Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002 | 10:58 a.m.

Although the Las Vegas Valley won't be seeing a white Christmas, it also probably won't be seeing the rainy Christmas predicted only days ago.

As recently as Sunday, National Weather Service officials forecast rain coming down from the Gulf of Alaska. But the low pressure system carrying the clouds seems to be breaking up, said Charlie Schlott, a meteorologist with the service.

"The system we were watching is kind of falling apart off the California coast, so we're not anticipating any real problem," he said.

"We should be in good hands come Christmas Eve and Christmas Day."

Those hands are expected to be freezing tonight and Christmas night, however.

This morning gave Las Vegans the coldest jolt of weather they've had this year, with a low of 30 at McCarran International Airport, meteorologist Steve Downs said.

The forecast calls for a high of 50 degrees and a low of 30 degrees Wednesday, with partly cloudy skies in the morning and light winds. The 30-year average for this time of year is a high of 51 and a low of 36, Schlott said.

The valley should stay dry and Mount Charleston probably won't see any more snow until the weekend at the earliest, Schlott said. Still, 11 inches of snow had fallen on the mountain in the last few weeks, according to measurements at the Mount Charleston fire station.

The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort in Lee Canyon was reporting light snow this morning wafting down onto a trace of new snow from Monday night. The ski area was reporting 16 to 24 inches on the slopes.

The lure of the white stuff in the Spring Mountains, particularly at this time of year, has prompted Metro Police to issue some travel tips Monday for those who go up Routes 156 and 157 to take in the snow.

The tips included obeying signs requiring chains or snow tires and avoiding parking or sledding close to the roadway. Motorists should also be advised that gasoline is not available at Mount Charleston and there is little parking outside of the mountain's hotel, lodge and ski resort, police said.

Information on road conditions is available at (877) 887-6237 (NVROADS) or at www. nevadadot.com.