Cold air is on its way; some rain possible

Monday, Sept. 30, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Weather forecasters expect a blast of cooler air to move through Southern Nevada late Tuesday through Wednesday, dropping temperatures up to 20 degrees below normal and bringing a chance of real rain to the Las Vegas Valley.

While high temperatures are expected in the low 80s today, a noticeable change is on the way.

Although gray clouds built over Southern Nevada on Saturday, no measurable rain fell in the valley, National Weather Service meteorologist John Adair said.

That means there has been less than an inch of rain since Jan. 1 -- 0.93 of an inch to be exact.

Southern Nevada is 2.59 inches shy of normal rainfall for the year.

The Las Vegas Valley could experience windy conditions as the weather changes, meteorologist Larry Jensen said late Sunday night.

Even if a shower or thunderstorm develops on Wednesday, it will not be enough rain to break the three-year drought plaguing Southern Nevada and most of the West.

The best chance for rain on Wednesday will be over northeast Nye County, about 60 miles northwest of Las Vegas, and in Lincoln County to the northeast.

But Adair said the changing weather will be strong enough to affect Southern Nevada.

Since it is the first blast of cold air this year, daytime temperatures on Wednesday are expected to reach only the lower 70s, Adair said. Normal daytime highs for this time of year are mid- to upper 80s.

The low pressure system plunging through Nevada from the north will bring a chance of snow to elevations above 6,000 feet.

The weather service has issued a special weather statement warning residents living above that range to protect plants and pipes that are sensitive to cold temperatures.

Mount Charleston could experience its first frost Wednesday night.