Dust accompanies chill in valley

Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004 | 9:26 a.m.

Winds, clouds of dust and colder temperatures are expected to send a chill through Southern Nevada's holiday weekend, weather forecasters said.

The National Weather Service predicted winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts of nearly 50 mph today.

That prompted the Clark County Air Quality Division to issue a dust advisory through tonight for Southern Nevada.

The advisory for airborne dust, which aggravates the lungs of children, the elderly and those suffering from bronchitis and asthma, doesn't mean sensitive people will be exposed to irritating particles, said Phil Wiker, the air quality division's meteorologist.

"The advisory means there is the potential for unhealthy levels of dust," Wiker said.

While the Weather Service sends out advisories for high winds, the county issued its advisory based on health concerns, Wiker said.

"Anything over 25 mph and we issue a wind advisory," he said.

Residents are urged to call the county's dust complaint hotline at 385-DUST (3878) to report excessive clouds of blowing dust.

The winds are expected to stir up dust and pollen particles after days of calm, warmer than normal temperatures.

Lake Mead could experience higher wind gusts than the valley.

Temperatures will struggle into the upper 40s today and lows are expected in the 30s for the rest of the week, National Weather Service meteorologist Larry Jensen said.

Wednesday's daytime high at McCarran International Airport was 51 degrees because clouds stopped afternoon sunlight from reaching the valley floor, Jensen said.

Temperatures are expected to drop 10 degrees below what the Las Vegas Valley has experienced this week, Jensen said. It's part of a suite of weather systems gathering strength in Canada and then plunging south through Nevada, California and Utah, forecasters said.

Mount Charleston could see a low of 9 degrees Friday morning, Jensen said.

By Saturday valley temperatures are expected to reach into the 50s.

"It should be a nice Christmas," Jensen said.

Icier temperatures won't bring rain to Southern Nevada anytime soon.

Weather forecasters expect increasing clouds to arrive in the valley on Sunday with partly cloudy skies through most of next week.