Vidal, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

814
FXUS65 KVEF 201013
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
220 AM PST Sat Dec 20 2025

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Unsettled conditions expected in our far northwestern areas
  through Monday.

* Widespread rain, high-elevation snow, and gusty winds likely
  around Christmastime.

&&

.DISCUSSION...through Friday.

Winds in the Eastern Sierra continue to gradually weaken, with a
Wind Advisory in effect until 4AM this morning. Lighter breezes are
forecast tomorrow, but gusty conditions return Sunday as cross-
barrier flow strengthens. Latest hi-res guidance paints the Sierra
with 70% odds of 55+ mph gusts, and the western edges of the Owens
Valley with 50% chance of 40+ mph gusts. If trends hold, wind
headlines may be needed for these zones. Beyond the winds, a long-
duration plume of moisture is set to impact the central Sierra today
through Monday. Most will be intercepted by the mountain range, but
some light spillover into the northern Owens Valley is possible
(25%). Forecast snow levels continue to be 9+ kft, so any winter
impacts will be quite limited. For the rest of the CWA, dry and mild
conditions persist with breezy afternoons in spots.

Our Christmastime storm system remains on track to bring widespread
precipitation and winds to the area. Breezes begin to pick up
Tuesday while precipitation chances enter our western zones.
However, the bulk of the initial wave arrives Christmas Eve as 50-
90% PoPs encompass the entire CWA due to the arrival of a
subtropical moisture plume. This is when precipitation will probably
be the heaviest, but also when snow levels will be highest. Forecast
snow levels during this time range from 7 kft in our NW areas to 10
kft in the southeast. Additionally, widespread wind gusts of 25-40
mph are likely (70%), with stronger gusts possible (40%) in spots.
We may see a relative lull in precipitation on Christmas Day
(Thursday) as the initial moisture plume passes. However, with the
trough still offshore, southwesterly flow will persist and keep
anomalous moisture in the area. Also, snow levels should begin to
fall during this time, so while precipitation amounts may decrease,
the potential for winter impacts may increase. Details Thursday and
Friday remain somewhat murky, but there is moderate to high
confidence in a widespread precipitation event Christmas Eve. Those
with travel plans should be prepared for wet conditions on most
roads and wintry weather above 7-8kft.

&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast
Package...Generally light winds following typical diurnal trends can
be expected today, very similar to conditions on Friday. Periods of
SCT-BKN cloud cover above 15kft AGL can be expected as well, with
cloud cover increasing during the evening and overnight hours.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 12Z Forecast Package... Winds across most of
the region will follow typical wind patterns, with speeds generally
10KT or less. Exception will be near KDAG where westerly gusts up to
25KT are expected in the afternoon. Precipitation is possible this
afternoon in the Sierra with a risk of mountain obscuration.
Precipitation should not make it into the Owens Valley, though CIGs
may drop to 7000ft tonight. VFR conditions will prevail elsewhere
with CIGs remaining at or above 15kft.

&&

.CLIMATE...Numerous climate locations have a forecast high
temperature and/or forecast warm low temperature within 3 degrees of
the daily record through Sunday.

The table below shows the daily record maximum temperature and the
year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which records
are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast).

MAX            SAT, DEC 20  SUN, DEC 21  MON, DEC 22
               Record(Yr)   Record(Yr)   Record(Yr)

Las Vegas      73(1981)     68(2023)*    75(2014)
Bishop         71(1972)     70(2018)*    74(2014)
Needles        76(1981)     75(2005)*    74(2020)*
Daggett        78(1981)*    76(2018)*    78(1955)
Kingman        74(1917)     73(1917)     72(1906)*
Desert Rock    69(2020)     70(2020)*    70(2014)*
Death Valley   79(1999)     81(1999)     82(1914)

The table below shows the daily record warm minimum temperature and
the year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which
records are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast).

WARM MIN       SAT, DEC 20  SUN, DEC 21  MON, DEC 22
               Record(Yr)   Record(Yr)   Record(Yr)

Las Vegas      50(2010)*    53(2023)*    50(2024)*
Bishop         42(1981)     40(2023)*    39(2014)
Needles        61(1901)     58(2010)     60(1904)
Daggett        52(1981)*    53(1981)*    59(1955)
Kingman        51(2010)     51(1904)     46(2005)*
Desert Rock    45(2010)*    44(2010)*    44(1994)*
Death Valley   65(1999)     60(1914)     70(1914)


&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION/CLIMATE...Woods
AVIATION...Gorelow


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