High wind warning, advisory issued for Las Vegas area

By Dave Toplikar

Published Wednesday, April 28, 2010 | 6:40 a.m.

Updated Wednesday, April 28, 2010 | 8:46 p.m.

Strong winds and blowing dust are moving into the Las Vegas area today, creating difficult driving and boating conditions and possibly causing some property damage, according to the National Weather Service.

As of 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Boulder City Police were encouraging motorists to avoid travel on U.S. 95 between Boulder City and Searchlight because dust had created near zero-visibility conditions.

Just before 4 p.m., winds were gusting at 43 mph at Red Rock Canyon, 43 mph at McCarran International Airport, 30 mph at North Las Vegas Airport and 48 mph at Nellis Air Force Base.

A high wind warning is in effect until 9 p.m. today for the Spring Mountains, the Sheep Range, Red Rock Canyon and the town of Mount Charleston, the weather service said.

Downslope winds will continue along the eastern slopes of the Spring Mountain Range, with gusts up to 70 mph this afternoon and evening, forecasters said.

Clark County and the Colorado River Valley from Lake Mead to Lake Havasu are under a wind advisory until 9 p.m. today, the weather service said.

Widespread southwest winds gusting between 40 and 50 mph will develop this afternoon and evening across the area, with some gusts up to 55 mph, forecasters said.

Strong crosswinds will create hazardous driving conditions, especially for large trucks, buses, trailers and campers, they said. Blowing dust can result in lower visibility, making driving difficult, forecasters said.

The winds will create very choppy waters and generate large waves on open waters, which could capsize or swamp small craft, forecaster said. Boaters are urged to avoid the open waters, stay close to shore or around protected areas.

Gusts of at least 58 mph can lead to property damage, they said.

The winds are being brought by a large low pressure system that is dropping from the Pacific northwest into the Great Basin through this evening, the weather service said.

Winds will decrease and become northwest tonight behind a cold front that will lead to significantly cooler temperatures by Thursday, forecasters said.

Conditions will gradually improve late in the weekend as the system moves east, forecasters said.

Around the valley just before 4 p.m., temperatures were 77 degrees at McCarran, 77 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 78 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 75 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport. The normal high for today's date is 82 degrees and the record high was 97 degrees, set in 2007.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 77 degrees by 6 p.m., to 69 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 63 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Thursday's morning low will be 57 degrees and Thursday's high will climb to 65 degrees, they said.

At 5:56 a.m. today, the temperature was 60 degrees at McCarran International Airport. The normal low for today's date is 57 degrees. The record low was 39 degrees, set in 1955.