weather:

Potentially dangerous heat heading to Las Vegas

Excessive heat warnings expected to be issued Thursday, Friday

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 | 6:21 a.m.

Clark County weather snapshot

Sun weather

Current conditions, today's forecast, neighborhood weather conditions, historical climatological information

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Read Wednesday's weather story.)

Make sure you have a cool place to get out of the heat during the afternoons this week -- temperatures are going to sizzle close to or above 110 degrees.

The National Weather Service says the hottest temperatures so far of the year are expected this week as high pressure builds into the desert southwest.

The highs expected for the Las Vegas Valley this week are 108 degrees today, 109 Wednesday, 112 Thursday, 114 Friday and 109 Saturday, according to the weather service.

Excessive heat warnings and watches -- for temperatures 112 or above -- could be issued Thursday and Friday, the weather service said.

Although Monday's highest temperature measured at McCarran International Airport was 108 degrees at 2:22 p.m., winds were gusting up to 25 mph during the hottest part of the day. But winds won't be as high today.

Winds today will be from the northwest only at 5 mph, becoming easterly. Tonight's temperatures will cool off, with the low falling to 86 degrees with south to southwest winds between 6 and 8 mph, forecasters said.

The normal temperature for today's date is 104 degrees, with the record of 116 set in 1972, according to the weather service.

The normal low for today is 78 degrees, with the record low of 63 degrees set in 1952.