Heavy winds expected

Thursday, April 22, 2004 | 9:43 a.m.

As colder air pushes into the Las Vegas Valley from the Pacific Northwest, the National Weather Service said winds could blow between 20 mph to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph today.

The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory through 3 p.m. today.

The temperature should reach 76 degrees, five to 10 degrees below daytime highs earlier this week.

The weather system is expected move east late Thursday, and Las Vegas will warm into the 80s through the weekend, weather service forecasters said.

Daytime highs could reach 90 degrees by Tuesday. The next week will also bring drier air with almost no chance of rain.

Motorists, pedestrians and those working outdoors could experience exposure to dust and pollen because of the winds today.

The Clark County Air Quality Division measured olive tree pollen at Baskin Park on West Oakey Boulevard at 1,000 grains in a cubic yard of air Sunday, said Monte Symmond.

"Some of the pollen could be picked up by the wind," Symmond said. The county is not collecting pollen samples today.

Besides olive trees, ambrosia growing in desert areas is contributing pollen to the valley's air, Symmond said.

Abrosia readings are running from high to moderate, he said.

Las Vegas ranks 38th on the list of allergy capitals by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.