More showers possible today

Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 | 11:12 a.m.

The Columbus Day weekend brought winds and thunderstorms to the Las Vegas Valley.

Storm clouds on Sunday brought traces of rain in the western valley and to McCarran International Airport, where official weather records are set, National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Fuis said.

A chance of showers or thunderstorms continues this afternoon and evening before a drier air pattern is expected to settle in Southern Nevada, according to weather service forecasts.

"It's not a big chance of storms today, maybe a 10- to 20-percent chance," weather service forecaster Jerry Jacques said today. There is little rain in the clouds swirling around Southern Nevada, he said.

"It's lovely fall weather with late afternoon thunderstorms," Jacques said.

A thunderhead south of Las Vegas about sunset Sunday produced spectacular lightning that could be seen throughout the valley, Fuis said.

The low pressure that brought windy conditions to the valley on Saturday and kicked off afternoon and evening showers on Sunday will remain until midweek.

However, daytime temperatures are expected to stay in the low to mid-80s through the week, a 10-degree to 15-degree drop from last week's highs in the 90s.

Cooler temperatures came as winds shifted from the southwest last week to north winds day and night. Nighttime lows were expected in the low to mid-60s.

The Regional Flood Control District measured some rain in the western valley Sunday night.

At Rainbow Boulevard a gauge picked up 0.04 of an inch.

Both Oakey Drive and West Desert Inn Road gauges recorded 0.08 of an inch each.

The West Flamingo Wash measured 0.04 of an inch.