Sub-freezing temperatures ice down Las Vegas Valley

By Dave Toplikar

Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 | 5:17 a.m.

Crank up the heat and find a coat. Sub-freezing temperatures were sending shivers through the Las Vegas Valley this morning. And today's afternoon high temperatures might reach only 50 — about 10 degrees below normal.

A weak disturbance moving through the Pacific northwest and northern Nevada will spread considerable high clouds over the area today and tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

But the big chill is about over. After a cold start near freezing Wednesday morning, mostly sunny and warmer conditions will move in under a ridge of high pressure, the weather service said.

High clouds will increase again Thursday ahead of a low pressure system approaching the California coast, forecasters said. Temperatures are forecast to be near normal Thursday afternoon, with highs reaching 60 degrees, they said.

Highs will climb to 66 degrees Friday and 64 Saturday, forecasters said. A slight chance of showers is moving in Sunday, they said.

At 4:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 32 degrees and the wind chill was 25. The normal low for today's date is 39 degrees. The record low was 22 degrees, set in 1948.

Around the valley just before 5 a.m., temperatures were 31 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 26 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 26 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport.

Temperatures in the valley were to rise today to 39 degrees by 9 a.m., to 48 degrees by noon and reach a high of 50 degrees by 2 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 60 degrees and the record high was 79 degrees, set in 1980.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 44 degrees by 6 p.m., to 42 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 39 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Wednesday's morning low will be 34 degrees and Wednesday's high will climb to 56 degrees, they said.