Gusty, but highs to hit low 70s in Las Vegas

By Dave Toplikar

Thursday, March 3, 2011 | 5:16 a.m.

Put away your heavy coat for a while — warmer temperatures are on the way to the Las Vegas Valley.

Although winds were gusting this morning, afternoon highs will be soaring into the low 70s today the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Just before 5 a.m., winds were from the southwest, gusting at 24 mph at McCarran International Airport, 39 degrees at Red Rock Canyon and 41 mph at Kyle Canyon on Mount Charleston.

The increase in winds are being brought by a weak Pacific that are also expected to produce light showers over the southern Sierra and south-central Nevada today.

At 4:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 61 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 44 degrees. The record low was 2 degrees, set in 1971.

Around the valley just before 5 a.m., temperatures were 51 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 51 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 55 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport.

Temperatures in the valley were to climb to 70 degrees by noon and reach a high of 72 degrees by 2 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 66 degrees and the record high was 85 degrees, set in 1972.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 67 degrees by 6 p.m., to 63 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 58 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Friday's morning low will be 50 degrees and Friday's high will climb to 70 degrees, they said.