Triple-digit heat to toast Las Vegas today

By Dave Toplikar (contact)

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 | 7:07 a.m.

If you like 100-plus degree heat, try to enjoy it this weekend — much cooler temperatures are heading in Tuesday and Wednesday to the Las Vegas Valley.

The National Weather Service said a significant change in the weather pattern will take place early next week across the West as an area of low pressure dives Monday out of the Gulf of Alaska.

That system will make afternoon temperatures plunge around 15 degrees in most areas from Tuesday to Wednesday, the weather service said.

But, this afternoon through Monday afternoon, the Las Vegas Valley is heading for temperatures above the 100-degree mark.

Thermometer readings were starting out in the low 70s this morning at McCarran International Airport. They were expected to hit about 93 degrees by noon and peak out at 102 by about 5 p.m., forecasters said.

The normal high for today is 90 degrees and the record for this date is 105 degrees, set in 1947. The normal low is 65 degrees and the record low is 45 degrees, set in 1948.

Sunday will also be sunny and hot. Lows will start out around 73 and climb to a high of 102 by late afternoon, forecasters said. Monday's afternoon high is expected to be 101 degrees.

Tuesday's high temperature will be closer to normal, reaching only 93 degrees, forecasters said.

On Wednesday, many desert valleys will reach highs of only in the mid to upper 70s, forecasters said.

Gusty west-to-southwest winds will also be likely from Tuesday afternoon into early Wednesday morning, the weather service said.

The strongest winds will be in the southern Sierra Nevada, where gusts could exceed 50 mph. Gusts in the valleys over 45 mph are also possible, forecasters said.