Sunny today, but cold front barreling into Las Vegas for first day of winter

By Dave Toplikar (contact)

Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011 | 2 a.m.

Kevin Janison

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You shouldn’t have to worry about any rain — or snow — for a couple of days if you're planning on being in the Las Vegas area.

"The weather disturbance that produced rain for us Sunday morning has slurped up some significant moisture and is dropping heavy snow in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and even West Texas," says Kevin Janison, KSNV-TV meteorologist. "But … quite docile conditions have settled in behind the front for us."

Today should be quiet, with the morning low starting out around 38 degrees and the high climbing to 56 degrees, with plenty of sunshine, he said.

"Ironically, winter begins Wednesday evening, and we’re going to celebrate with another cold front barreling down from the north," Janison said. "This will cut the temps and kick up the winds for Thursday."

According to the National Weather Service, the morning’s low at McCarran was expected to be 38 degrees, which is the normal low for today's date. The record low was 14 degrees, set in 1945.

Temperatures at McCarran were to rise today to 44 degrees by 9 a.m., to 53 degrees by noon and reach a high of 56 degrees by 2 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 56 degrees and the record high was 73 degrees, set in 1981.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 48 degrees by 6 p.m., to 43 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 39 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Wednesday's morning low will be 35 degrees and Wednesday's high will climb to 57 degrees, they said.