Death Valley, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

401
FXUS65 KVEF 192329
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
429 PM PDT Wed Aug 19 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Warm temperatures continue with above- normal afternoon highs and
  near-record morning lows.

* Thunderstorm chances return to the forecast starting Thursday as
  monsoon moisture increases, with the highest confidence and most
  widespread storm coverage on Friday.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Through Early Next Week.

High pressure remained in place over the region today as
temperatures remains on track to similar levels as yesterday. This
area of high pressure will slowly shift east and weaken the next few
days which will allow for abnormal heat to continue. High
temperatures will continue to run 5-8 degrees above normal with near
record overnight warm lows through at least Friday, which will
result in Moderate to Major HeatRisk in most desert valleys and an
Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect through Friday. Temperatures
are knocked back a few degrees Friday through the weekend compared
to current levels, though most recent forecast high temperatures
this weekend are trending warmer. It will be "cooler" this weekend
but will need to assess if it cools off enough where the heat will
no longer pose a risk, especially with it being a weekend with
increases recreation and outdoor activity. Probabilities for Major
HeatRisk does decrease through the weekend with current ensemble
data.

Moisture will advect into the region on Thursday and Friday as PWATs
climb to around 150% of normal by Friday afternoon. This will bring
a return of thunderstorm chances to the region. Isolated convection
in the terrain of Mohave County Thursday afternoon will become more
scattered into Southern Nevada and the Colorado River Valley on
Friday. Any storm will have the capability of producing locally
heavy rain, flash flooding, lightning, and sudden gusty winds. On
Saturday, the upper level flow turns southwest ahead of an incoming
trough. This will advect drier air into the region and shove the
high over the Four Corners region east, which is not ideal for local
monsoon set ups. This weekend`s thunderstorm chances will depend on
how quickly the moisture is scoured out as upper level dynamics are
introduced with the trough. Current forecast is fairly dry for this
weekend with only a slight chances on the Sierra into the terrain of
the Southern Great Basin, but if moisture lingers longer this may
change. Anyone with weekend plans should monitor later forecasts as
details come together. Looking towards early next week, confidence
is marginal in how much moisture will be around and how widespread
storm coverage could be as the trough and area of high pressure
compete in the overall synoptic setup.

&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 00Z Forecast
Package...Southwesterly winds will continue gusting to around
20KT through sunset, diminishing thereafter and becoming lighter
overnight. Winds will follow similar patterns on Thursday, veering
southeast late morning, and southwest through the afternoon,
becoming gusty through sunset. Late in the period, there is a low
chance that thunderstorms over northwestern Arizona could send
outflow winds west into the Las Vegas Valley, though confidence in
this is very low at this time. Otherwise, VFR conditions prevail
with no operationally significant cloud cover. Temperatures will
remain above 100 degrees through 04Z this evening, and rise above
100 degrees again by 18Z Thursday.



For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 00Z Forecast Package...Gusty southerly to
southwesterly winds will continue through sunset this evening,
before becoming lighter and settling into typical directional
patterns through Thursday morning. Similar wind patterns are
expected Thursday, with southerly to southwesterly winds with
gusts to 20-25KT developing during the afternoon. Exceptions
include KDAG/the western Mojave Desert where west-southwesterly
winds become gusty through late evening, becoming lighter and
variable by mid-morning, and KBIH in the northern Owens Valley
where gusty south-southeasterly up-valley winds continue through
sunset, resuming by early afternoon. Isolated to scattered
thunderstorms are expected to develop over northwestern Arizona
Thursday afternoon, with gusty outflow winds potentially impacting
Colorado River Valley terminals just beyond the end of the
period. Otherwise, VFR conditions prevail, with passing bands of
clouds with bases at or above 10kft.

&&

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

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Nickerson
AVIATION...Phillipson

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