430
FXUS65 KVEF 190851
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
151 AM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Heat headlines remain in effect as an unprecedented March heatwave
  continues into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...through Wednesday.

We saw monthly high temperature records set at 5 of our 7 climate
sites yesterday. Expect these to be rewritten today, and again on
Friday. The sites that didn`t break their March records (Bishop and
Death Valley) are likely to today and/or Friday. At the peak of the
heatwave, temperatures will approach all-time April records.
Temperatures cool slightly Sunday and Monday as a weak shortwave
passes by, but models show the ridge strengthening again next week.
Basically, temperatures are going to run well above normal for at
least the next 7 days, if not longer. We`re running out of ways to
describe how anomalous this heat is, but I`ll try a new one. Using
extended temperature forecasts for Las Vegas from the NBM and raw
ensemble data, this March has the potential to finish with an
average temperature of 71.5-72 degrees. Not only would this demolish
the old March record of 66.7 degrees, but if we were to pretend it
was April, it would rank as the third hottest April on record.
Obviously, there`s still a fair amount of uncertainty in how warm
the last week of March will be given it`s over 7 days away, but it`s
very likely (80%) to at least run above normal.

&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Light
winds under 8KT are expected today through tonight. East winds will
develop around 18Z this afternoon then shift southeast after 21Z.
Typical southwest winds return tonight around sunset. Clear skies
will persist through the period. Very warm temperatures are expected
through the weekend as high temperatures climb over 90 degrees each
afternoon. There is a 20% chance temperatures reach or exceed 100
degrees on Friday, then a 10% chance on Saturday.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Breezy north winds will
develop around KIFP gusts up to 20KT develop after later this
morning, however these elevated winds in the Colorado River Valley
should remain isolated to this area and will diminish after 21Z.
Elsewhere, expect light winds under 10KT to follow typical
directional patterns today and tonight. Clear skies will persist
through the period.
&&

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

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           THU, MAR 19  FRI, MAR 20  SAT, MAR 21  SUN, MAR 22
              Record(Yr)   Record(Yr)   Record (Yr)  Record (Yr)

Las Vegas     90(2017)*    90(2004)*    92(2004)*    91(2004)*
Bishop        82(2004)*    84(2004)*    84(2004)*    83(2004)*
Needles       98(2017)*    97(2004)*    98(2004)*    97(2004)*
Daggett       89(2017)*    94(1997)*    92(2004)*    92(2004)*
Kingman       85(1907)*    89(2004)*    89(2004)*    87(2004)*
Desert Rock   85(1997)*    86(2004)*    87(2004)*    87(2004)*
Death Valley  99(2017)*    97(2004)*    101(2004)*   102(2004)*

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      THU, MAR 19  FRI, MAR 20  SAT, MAR 21  SUN, MAR 22
              Record(Yr)   Record(Yr)   Record (Yr)  Record (Yr)

Las Vegas     63(2017)*    68(2017)*    69(2017)*    62(2015)*
Bishop        48(2013)*    46(2013)*    47(1978)*    46(1963)*
Needles       68(1914)     69(2017)     70(2017)     68(2004)*
Daggett       61(2013)*    60(2017)*    59(1978)*    62(2015)*
Kingman       54(1953)*    54(1936)*    54(1978)*    55(2004)*
Desert Rock   53(2013)*    59(2017)*    58(2017)*    54(2018)*
Death Valley  75(1916)*    73(2017)*    73(2017)*    72(2022)*

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Woods
AVIATION...Nickerson

For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:
https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter