Heat sears its mark into Las Vegas record books

By Dave Toplikar

Published Friday, Aug. 21, 2009 | 6:01 a.m.

Updated Friday, Aug. 21, 2009 | 5:40 p.m.

A blast of hot afternoon temperatures sent thermometer readings into the record books today around the Las Vegas Valley.

Las Vegas hit an official high of 110 degrees at 3:19 p.m. at McCarran International Airport, breaking through the old high temperature record for this date of 109 degrees, set in 1940.

The normal high temperature for today's date is 101 degrees.

Other sites around Las Vegas were also reporting high heat late this afternoon.

An automated weather service station near UNLV reported 113 degrees at 4:10 p.m., Henderson Executive Airport reported 110 degrees between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and North Las Vegas Airport was reporting 109 degrees at 4:53 p.m.

The National Weather Service's excessive heat warning lasts until 7 tonight.

Ten cooling shelters have been set up around the city to allow the homeless to escape from the heat.

Temperatures will fall from record highs today to below normal temperatures on Saturday as clouds roll in and showers and thunderstorms roll into the valley.

Overnight, the low will drop to 84 degrees. And the high temperature on Saturday will climb to 97 degrees, below the normal high of 101 for Saturday's date.

There's a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Saturday and a 40 percent chance Saturday night before 11 p.m., the weather service said. Saturday's high temperature will be 97 degrees, forecasters said.

Sunday's high will also be 97 degrees, with a 30 percent of showers and thunderstorms between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., the weather service said.

The weather service provided these tips for dealing with the heat:

-- Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and caffeine.

-- Stay in an air-conditioned areas during the hottest part of the day.

-- Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing.

-- Eat lightly and avoiding heavy meals with lots of protein.

-- Check on ill people and elderly people, who are at a greater risk from the heat.