572 FXUS65 KVEF 021143 AFDVEFArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 443 AM PDT Thu Oct 2 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
* Our next system arrives Friday, bringing precipitation chances to the Great Basin and dry, gusty conditions elsewhere.
* Beyond Friday, temperatures will remain slightly below normal along with dry conditions.
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.DISCUSSION...through Wednesday.
Models remain in good agreement on the arrival of our next system on Friday and expectations for this storm have not changed too much. Precipitation chances remain confined to the Sierra and Great Basin, where PoPs range from 20-60% (highest in our farthest northwest locations). Precipitation amounts don`t look significant at this time, with the valleys having a 75% chance of less than 0.25" and the mountains having a 75% chance of less than 0.50". However, snow levels around 9,500-10,000 feet will allow some minor snow accumulations (1-4") to occur on the Sierra crest. Farther southeast, dry conditions continue on Friday while winds ramp up. Fairly widespread gusts of 20-40 mph are likely (50% chance or greater) from western San Bernardino/southern Inyo counties up to central/northern Mohave County and Lincoln County. Hi-res guidance highlights portions of the Owens Valley and the Desert Rock to Indian Springs area with 50% odds of seeing 40+ mph gusts due to localized downsloping.
The progressive nature of this system means that it`ll be out of our area by Saturday. In its wake, drier conditions, cooler temperatures, and lighter breezes. Ensembles continue to indicate a reloading/persistent trough over the western US through the middle of next week, which means the aforementioned conditions are likely to linger, albeit with a slight moderation in temperatures toward seasonable values.
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.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Winds follow typical diurnal patterns today, settling out of the southeast by late morning and veering to the southwest during the afternoon. Sustained speeds will increase to around 10-12KT, with intermittent higher gusts to 18-20KT expected, especially from late afternoon through early evening. Thereafter, winds remain southwesterly, with gusts diminishing through early morning when gusts to 20-25KT return through the end of the period. VFR conditions prevail with FEW-SCT clouds with bases around 25kft.
For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Winds will generally follow diurnal patterns through the forecast period. Winds shift to the south to southwest this afternoon, increasing to around 10-15KT with gusts to 18-22KT common. Up-valley gusts closer to 25KT are expected in the Owens Valley this afternoon, and across the western Mojave Desert, gusty westerly winds are expected to hold off until the evening, with gusts to 25-30KT expected there through the night. Otherwise, VFR conditions prevail with passing mid and high clouds, and showers expected to develop across the Sierra Crest late in the period.
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.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures.
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DISCUSSION...Woods AVIATION...Phillipson
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NWS VEF Office Area Forecast Discussion