Above-average heat to hit Las Vegas today

By Dave Toplikar

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 | 5:52 a.m.

The Las Vegas Valley will get another blast of desert heat today as afternoon temperatures soar to 107 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

This afternoon's high temperature will be above the normal reading of 103 degrees for today's date. The record high for today is 113, set in 1937. Wednesday's high was 105 degrees.

Las Vegas will be a few degrees cooler during the weekend and early next week in the valley, forecasters said.

Thunderstorm were expected today over northwest Arizona before a dry southwest flow of air moves into the area on Friday, the weather service said.

Tonight's skies will be mostly clear, with a low around 82 degrees.

Friday skies will be sunny and the afternoon high will climb to 103, forecasters said.

An unseasonably strong area of low pressure ushering in drier air will lead to breezy conditions Friday, the weather service said.

Winds will be south to southwest between 7 and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph Friday during the day. Friday night, temperatures will drop off to 80 degrees, with southwest winds picking up to between 11 and 18 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph.

Saturday won't be quite as hot, with the high reaching near 100. Sunday's high will be near 99 degrees, forecasters said.

The extended forecast calls for highs to be 101 Monday, 102 Tuesday and 103 Wednesday.

There were some some isolated thunderstorms this morning to the north of Las Vegas in Lincoln County, the weather service said.

Shortly before 5 a.m., isolated thunderstorms around Caliente and Panaca were moving to the northeast at 15 mph and affecting traffic along Nevada Highway 93 and State Route 219, forecasters said.

Occasional lightning and brief light to moderate rain showers were expected in that area through 6 a.m., forecasters said.