Skies expected to calm over weekend

Thursday, Sept. 30, 2004 | 9:43 a.m.

September's weather has ranged from above-normal temperatures early in the month to daytime highs that may be five to eight degrees below average this week after a series of storms brushed to the north of the Las Vegas Valley.

Today and Friday the valley's daytime highs are expected in the low to mid 80s before warming up by Sunday to near 90 degrees.

A sizable thunderstorm that formed northeast of the valley Wednesday afternoon produced several funnel clouds over northwestern Arizona, National Weather Service meteorologists said, but they missed Southern Nevada.

Spotters in Colorado City, Ariz., reported two funnel clouds, which are twisters that do not touch the ground.

A thundercloud developed over the northwestern Spring Mountains late Wednesday, but collapsed over North Las Vegas after 5 p.m. with winds gusting more than 35 mph raising clouds of dust.

Storm clouds that towered over Southern Nevada's mountains collapsed after the sun set Wednesday.

The stormy weather had moved north and east out of Southern Nevada by Wednesday night.

Calmer and warmer weather is expected for the weekend.

Another weather disturbance pushing across California from the Pacific Ocean could bring a threat of winds and isolated showers or thunderstorms early next week.

However, weather service forecasters said that the next air mass heading for Southern Nevada did not appear to pack much moisture.