Weather service issues wind warning

Friday, June 17, 2005 | 9:47 a.m.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning through 9 tonight for Southern and Central Nevada, northwestern Arizona and western Utah because of high winds and dry conditions in the Southwest.

The red flag warning means that sustained winds will blow between 20-30 mph, further drying out browned brush and grasses produced after the winter rains, Weather Service meteorologist Larry Jensen said.

Gusts today could reach 40 mph.

The Weather Service also takes into account moisture in the area before it issues red flag warnings. When the relative humidity will be at 15 percent or less for three hours, combined with high winds, a warning is issued.

Windy conditions and cooler temperatures arrived as a weather system pushed into the Pacific Northwest, nudging a dome of warm and still air away from Southern Nevada, Jensen said.

Las Vegas Valley temperatures are expected to drop five to 10 degrees this weekend.

While normal temperatures are in the high 90s to low 100s this time of year, today the thermometer is expected to reach 94 degrees.

Saturday's temperature could range from the high 80s to low 90s.

Although clouds will increase Sunday and Monday, no rain is expected at this time.