Temperatures to hit 108 in Las Vegas Valley

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011 | 6:31 a.m.

Ice down the drinks and find some shade — a hot and sunny summer day is in store for the Las Vegas Valley.

Temperatures were starting out in the valley in the 70s, but were expected to push their way into the 100s by noon, according to the National Weather Service.

Highs were expected to climb to around 102 degrees on the west side of the valley and to around 108 degrees on the east side, the weather service said.

Moisture will increase in the region somewhat today and Thursday, eventually leading to a slight chance of thunderstorms east of Las Vegas by Thursday afternoon, forecasters said.

A southwest flow will then push the moisture mainly east of the region on Friday, although Eastern Mohave County could still see isolated thunderstorms, forecasters said.

Temperatures will remain a few degrees above normal through the weekend, they said.

At 5:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 77 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 79 degrees. The record low was 55 degrees, set in 1938.

Around the valley just before 6 a.m., temperatures were 77 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 72 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 76 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport.

Temperatures in the valley were to rise today to 90 degrees by 9 a.m., to 98 degrees by noon and reach a high of 107 degrees by 4 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 102 degrees and the record high was 111 degrees, set in 1939.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 106 degrees by 6 p.m., to 98 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 92 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Thursday's morning low will be 84 degrees and Thursday's high will climb to 106 degrees, they said.