High winds expected to continue in valley

Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

Winds gusting over 50 mph were expected to rake the Las Vegas Valley today, and the National Weather Service has issued an advisory for people with respiratory problems and vehicles affected by wind, such as trucks and vans, to avoid the bluster.

After local downpours and pea-sized hail pelted Southern Nevada Monday, the storm system that dumped 0.22 an inch of rain on the valley moved eastward.

That brought the jetstream over the valley and with it the wind, Weather Service meteorologist Brian Fuis said.

About 11 p.m. winds blew from the northwest across the valley, reaching 16 mph at the North Las Vegas Airport and gusting above 20 mph in the western section of the valley.

While recent rains have settled Southern Nevada's normally dusty conditions, those with allergies still were feeling the effect of mulberry tree pollen that was very high despite the rain, with more than 10,000 grains per cubic yard of air.

After a low of 44 degrees Monday night, the high for today was expected to be in the low 60s with lows in the lower 40s.

Monday's high of 57 degrees was 12 degrees below average.

The blustery winds are expected to last through Wednesday with another chance of rain on Thursday, when a new storm system is expected to drop southward from the Pacific Northwest.

By the weekend, however, forecasters expect clear skies and temperatures warming into the low 70s.