More rain and snow to fall tonight in Las Vegas area

By Dave Toplikar (contact)

Published Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 | 6:30 a.m.

Updated Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 | 4:50 p.m.

Scattered rain showers that have been keeping Las Vegas wet and cold all day will decrease this afternoon before another batch of showers enters the valley this evening and overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

And the storm that's passing through the area will also continue to bring heavy snow into area mountains through Wednesday morning, making driving difficult, forecasters said.

The weather service has issued a winter storm warning for heavy snow for Red Rock Canyon, the Spring Mountains and Sheep Range that's now in effect until 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Forecasters said the snow will become more widespread and persistent overnight, then taper off by mid morning Wednesday. Snow will fall in elevations of 4,000 to 4,500 feet and higher after 10 p.m., forecasters said. They predict accumulations of 4 to 8 inches at 5,000 feet and 6 to 12 inches above 7,000 feet.

Travel is expected to be difficult and might be impossible on some roads in the mountains, including State Route 160 between Las Vegas and Pahrump, forecasters said. The weather service advises motorists to travel in the mountains only during emergencies. Motorists are advised to take an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicles, forecasters said.

Forecasters said cloud ceilings will fall to around 3,000 to 4,000 feet after 10 p.m. Widespread rain is expected to start up again between 10 tonight and 7 a.m. Wednesday, with some rain lingering in the area until about 11 a.m. Wednesday, forecasters said.

As of about 4 p.m. today, rainfall amounts recorded around the valley included .11 of an inch at McCarran International Airport, .1 of an inch at North Las Vegas Airport, .1 at Nellis Air Force Base, and .06 at Henderson Executive Airport.

Temperatures at that time were 48 degrees at McCarran, 46 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 49 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 46 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport. The high today was 48 degrees, or 14 degrees lower than the normal high for today's date of 62 degrees. The record high is 77 degrees, set in 1951.

This morning's low temperature today at McCarran was 43 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 40 degrees and the record low is 19 degrees, set in 1946.

Tonight's temperatures will fall to 46 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 45 degrees by midnight, forecasters said. Wednesday's early morning low will be 43 degrees and Wednesday's high will be 57 degrees, forecasters said.

After the storm moves out Wednesday, the area will have generally dry weather with a warming trend through the weekend into early next week, forecasters said.