344
FXUS65 KVEF 021825
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
1025 AM PST Fri Jan 2 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Fog will remain in some areas of the Mojave Desert through the
  morning leading to reduced visibility.

* Episodes of light rain and high elevation snow to continue through
  the weekend.

* Unsettled weather will persist across the Western U.S. through the
  week with periods of breezy conditions and additional rounds of
  light rain and mountain snow.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Today through next Friday.

Conditions early this morning are characterized by light winds, high
humidity from recent rainfall, and cool temperatures. Dew point
depressions are generally between zero and three degrees for most
valley locations. This environment is conducive for fog development
and is expected to remain favorable for fog through sunrise.
Automated sensors at Las Vegas, Barstow/Daggett, and Lake Havasu
City have already reported visibility of less than 1/2 mile tonight,
and dangerously low visibility has been observed on highway cameras
around the area. Use caution while driving during the early morning
commute.

Today`s forecast calls for dry and pleasant conditions thanks to a
shortwave ridge over the region. However, this calm will be short
lived as low pressure drops south along the Pacific Coast, sending
moist southwesterly flow into the Southwest U.S. PWATs reach the 150
to 200 percent of normal range over the weekend as the plume of
moisture moves through. Precipitation amounts are modest, with
probabilities of reaching .1 inch in 24 hours between 10 and 30
percent in most desert valleys. Higher amounts are expected in Owens
Valley, the southern Great Basin, and along area mountains. Snow
levels fall from 7500-8500 feet on Saturday to 6500-7500 feet on
Sunday as heights aloft decrease through the day. Given the light
precipitation amounts overall, snow totals are unimpressive and
winter related impacts are not expected. The first round should
occur on Saturday, followed by a lull on Saturday Night, then
another round on Sunday.

Additional disturbances move along the southwesterly flow pattern as
the low tracks east, bringing additional chances for precipitation.
Moisture becomes more limited as this happens and daily
precipitation totals should be light. During the second half of the
week, a trough will dig south into the western United States,
bringing cold air potential for windy conditions and wintry
precipitation. Details regarding intensity are somewhat unclear at
this time as there remains a good amount of variability between
models.

&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Isolated
areas of fog continue to be a concern across the eastern portions of
the Las Vegas Valley. This fog should continue to burn off through
the morning and become less impactful by midday. Beyond that, SCT
clouds with bases AOA 5kft AGL will persist into the evening before
BKN to OVC high clouds return to the region late this evening and
overnight. No precipitation is expected in the valley before
tomorrow evening. Winds will remain light and diurnal through the
TAF period.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona and
southeastern California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Areas of
patchy fog continue across portions of southern Nevada, as well as
parts of the Mojave Desert in southern California, late this
morning. This fog will continue to burn off, with most areas seeing
visibilities increase to greater than 6SM by 20Z. After that, SCT to
BKN clouds with bases AOA 5kft AGL can be expected into this
evening, before BKN to OVC high clouds return overnight from west to
east. A few showers are possible around KBIH after 15Z Saturday, but
most areas will not see precipitation until after 20Z Saturday.
Winds will remain light and diurnal through the TAF period.

&&


.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Meltzer
AVIATION...Planz

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NWS Las Vegas (VEF) Office