FXUS65 KVEF 192300 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 400 PM PDT Tue May 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * A warming trend will result in above normal temperatures for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. * Much uncertainty exists into next week as a series of Western U.S. storm systems interact with one another. && .DISCUSSION... Another day of unseasonably mild temperatures is on deck in the wake of Sunday's powerful storm system and cold front. Lingering north/northwest flow will continue to promote breezy conditions on area lakes, especially across the Colorado River Valley the remainder of today and again tomorrow. This may promote choppy conditions for boaters. Winds should gradually improve from Thursday into the weekend. Elsewhere, the main concern will be rising temperatures from the latter half of the week into the weekend. Temperatures should climb to near normal by tomorrow, then increase to around 5-10 degrees above normal from Thursday through the upcoming holiday weekend. This will result in several days of Moderate Heat Risk namely across Death Valley and the Colorado River Valley region. While this is not the highest category of Heat Risk, it still represents a threat, especially for those not acclimated to desert weather conditions, and with the abundance of outdoor recreation expected over the coming weekend. Folks are urged to follow heat safety recommendations if planning on being outdoors this weekend. As we enter next week, ensembles paint a very uncertain picture as to exactly how the upper air pattern will evolve. There is relatively high confidence in the presence of an upper trough somewhere across the Pacific Northwest and a weaker upper low off the California Coast. However, there remains considerable disagreement on the exact placement and intensity of these features, which is very relevant on how they may interact with one another and impact local weather. While confidence is moderate in the continuation of warm to hot conditions, there is also a low probability of increasing winds and potentially some precipitation, mainly over the higher terrain. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 00Z Forecast Package...Winds early in the forecast period will remain elevated, around 8-10KT, though will be variable between roughly 300- 030 true. Mid- to late evening, winds settle out of the northwest, dropping to around 5-10KT, before veering to the northeast by late Tuesday morning. Winds thereafter will remain around 8KT or less, gradually veering to the southeast through the afternoon and becoming variable after sunset. VFR conditions will continue with a few high clouds around 25kft expected to move into the area Tuesday evening. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 00Z Forecast Package...Elevated northerly to northeasterly winds will continue diminishing through the evening, with terrain-enhanced gusts to 25-30KT expected to continue along the Lower Colorado River Valley from KIFP to KEED for the first couple hours of the forecast period before decreasing. Overnight, winds areawide will drop to around 5-10KT, with gusty northerly winds returning by mid-morning at KIFP and KEED, with gusts expected to top out around 25KT through mid- afternoon. Elsewhere, winds will generally remain under 10KT. VFR conditions prevail areawide, with bands of high clouds around 25kft across southern areas this evening, and increasing mid-level and high clouds from the north late in the period. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ DISCUSSION...Austin AVIATION...Phillipson For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter