Las Vegas hits record high as heat wave continues

By Dave Toplikar

Monday, April 23, 2012 | 4:43 a.m.

High temperatures will be flirting with the record books again today in Las Vegas, with the afternoon high soaring close to the 100-degree mark.

Las Vegas hit a high of 99 degrees at 3:37 p.m. Sunday, breaking the old record for that date of 98 degrees, set in 1939, according to the National Weather Service.

Today’s high is expected to be 98, which would tie the old high temperature record for today’s date set 18 years ago.

The strong ridge of high pressure bringing the hot weather will move east today, with a weak weather system crossing through the ridge, the weather service said. That weather system might bring isolated thunderstorms to the Spring Mountains and Sheep Range this afternoon, forecasters said.

Temperatures will cool a bit on Tuesday as the ridge moves farther east and a low pressure system approaches the coast, they said.

The low will bring much cooler air, clouds and a chance for showers Wednesday through Thursday, they said. Highs will reach 90 on Tuesday, 82 on Wednesday and 73 on Thursday, they said.

This morning’s low at McCarran was expected to be 71 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 58 degrees. The record low was 36 degrees, set in 1937.

Temperatures at McCarran were to rise today to 83 degrees by 9 a.m., to 92 degrees by noon and reach a high of 97 degrees by 3 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 81 degrees and the record high was 98 degrees, set in 1994.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 96 degrees by 6 p.m., to 89 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 78 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Tuesday's morning low will be 67 degrees and Tuesday's high will climb to 90 degrees, they said.