Cooling trend is expected

Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2002 | 10:09 a.m.

Although it was hotter than normal Monday, forecasters are saying cooler temperatures may arrive in Southern Nevada by the end of the week.

The Labor Day holiday high of 101 degrees didn't break any National Weather Service records and was cooler than expected because of clouds that ballooned above the southern and western mountains.

No rain fell in the Las Vegas Valley on Monday, meteorologist Barry Fuis said.

However, winds from thunderstorms circling the area sent out a blast into the western valley reaching 38 mph at 6:44 p.m., the highest gust recorded all day, Fuis said.

A low-pressure system was centered over Southern Nevada on Monday, keeping thundershowers away from the valley, he said.

Voters going to the polls today will enjoy partly cloudy weather with a high between 100 degrees and 105 degrees.

As soon as Wednesday, however, the valley may begin to feel the effects of Hurricane Hernan, the eighth tropical storm to form in the eastern Pacific Ocean this year, Fuis said.

At the same time a winter-like storm is expected to dig into Northern Nevada, bringing winds and cooler conditions to the south. High temperatures are expected in the mid-90s by the end of the week.

September weather is often unsettled as weather patterns shift, Fuis said. The cooler system dropping south from the Pacific Northwest combined with the hurricane could draw rain into Southern Nevada.

"The door's open," Fuis said of the two weather systems approaching this week.

If the hurricane's moisture reaches the Las Vegas Valley, up to an inch of rain could be expected.

Since the forecast is so far away -- two days -- the weather service is predicting a chance of thunderstorms and rain Wednesday through Friday.