Winter storm warning issued for area mountains

By Dave Toplikar

Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 | 6:50 a.m.

Snowy, wet and blustery weather will move in today to the Las Vegas area and southern Nevada, according to the National Weather Service.

A winter storm warning has been issued for elevations above 5,500 feet in the Spring Mountains and the Sheep Range, including the town of Mount Charleston, from 10 p.m. today until 4 p.m. Saturday, the weather service said.

Forecasters said they expect from 12 to 18 inches of snow to accumulate, with southwest winds 20 to 30 mph, gusting to 40 to 50 mph.

Drivers are urged to be prepared for snow-covered roads and limited visibility, forecasters said. Motorists are urged to carry an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicle in case of an emergency.

A strong Pacific storm system off the California coast will slowly move across the southern Great Basin and Mojave Desert today through Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm will bring widespread valley rain, the weather service said. Chances for rain in the valley are 30 percent today, 80 percent tonight, 90 percent Saturday, 50 percent Saturday night and 30 percent Sunday.

At 5:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 46 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 42 degrees. The record low was 17 degrees, set in 1938.

Around the valley just before 6 a.m., temperatures were 43 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 47 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 48 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport.

Temperatures in the valley were to rise today to 51 degrees by 9 a.m., to 60 degrees by noon and reach a high of 64 degrees by 3 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 64 degrees and the record high was 81 degrees, set in 1977.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 61 degrees by 6 p.m., to 57 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 54 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Saturday's morning low will be 47 degrees and Saturday's high will climb to 58 degrees, they said.