FXUS65 KVEF 161900 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 1200 PM PDT Fri Oct 16 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * Gusty winds are diminishing, leading to calmer and cooler weather into the weekend. * Precipitation chances return to the region early to middle of next week, with significant uncertainty in forecast and impact details. && .DISCUSSION...Through the next Friday. The stronger, hazardous winds have subsided, with most of the areas seeing lingering breezy winds that will reduce into the evening. Saturday will offer another batch of breezy afternoon winds, but Sunday will be on the quieter side. Temperatures will also reduce into the weekend with Saturday and Sunday seeing highs roughly 5 degrees below average for most areas (upper 70s and low 80s) with the main exception being Death Valley which will be right around average: in the low 90s. The next work week will see breezy winds return as another through pattern begins to approach the region, and with the northwesterly flow, temperatures look to remain on the cool side. As this trough pushes closer to the region, it will tab into some moisture from the Pacific and transport some showers into the region. Models are still struggling to nail the timing for initial rain chances and there is good potential for the time of arrival to be delayed, but the current official forecast calls for spotty showers to arrive early Tuesday. These rain chances look to become more widespread into that evening, with rain chances continuing to increase into Wednesday as the trough centers over southern California. The orientation of the trough and it's associated low pressure center at that time will offer a direct line of moisture transport into the area offering our best chances for rain and increased rain rate. Unfortunately this is where a lot of the models begin to struggle, with some slowing the low pressure's movement, and others pushing multiple lows through the area. Both outcomes call for rain chances to last into that weekend, but greatly differ on rainfall amounts and overall impacts. The current forecast shows lingering rain into the weekend, but nothing largely impactful. Much can change in our longer term forecast, so be sure to check in as it develops! && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package... Northeast winds will continue through the afternoon, with occasional gusts of 25 to 30 knots persisting through sunset. Winds will fall below 12 knots overnight, with directions becoming more variable but still maintaining a northerly component. Northeast breezes return Saturday, although speeds will be lighter than today and are expected to remain below 10 knots. VFR conditions will prevail through Saturday, with mainly clear skies through tonight, followed by increasing mid- and high-level clouds tomorrow morning. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Gusty winds will continue through the afternoon, with gusts generally 15 to 30 knots across much of the region. Across the southern Great Basin and western Mojave Desert, wind directions will favor northeast to east directions, while northerly winds are expected in the Colorado River Valley and northern Owens Valley. Winds will diminish overnight, with most areas seeing speeds fall below 10 knots. VFR conditions will prevail, with FEW to SCT high clouds spreading from south to north overnight and Saturday morning. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ DISCUSSION...Murdock AVIATION...Planz For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter