Gusty weather to continue

Thursday, March 7, 2002 | 9:26 a.m.

Southern Nevada's March weather in the next five days will include gusty winds, cooler temperatures and a chance of showers, as three storms move into the area from the Pacific Ocean.

It's a "roller coaster early March pattern," National Weather Service meteorologist Ron McQueen said.

A band of dark clouds and winds, with gusts as high as 41 mph, moved into the Las Vegas Valley about sunset Wednesday.

But the storm system left only traces of rain at McCarran International Airport.

"The atmosphere was just too dry. It soaked it up before it hit the ground." forecaster Ernie Cobb said.

The most active weather, bringing thunderstorms and rain squalls, rumbled through south-central Nevada, affecting Nye and Lincoln counties, forecaster Paul Skrbac said.

The first storm system came Wednesday night, weather service meteorologist Brian Fuis said. The second round is due tonight, he said. Clouds will stay around today with a high temperature expected in the mid-60s. The winds will continue blowing between 15 and 25 mph with some higher gusts.

Tonight's temperatures will drop to between 45 and 50 degrees with winds from the north between 20 and 30 mph, the weather service said.

Friday is expected to be clear and sunny, but cooler with daytime temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees and northern winds up to 25 mph with higher gusts.

Warm temperatures nearing 70 degrees Saturday should be followed by a third storm system moving into the area late Sunday through Monday with a chance of showers.