Tuesday, July 3, 2012 | 2:35 p.m.
Thunderstorms and windy conditions may be on the horizon just as people gear up for outdoor celebrations on the Fourth of July.
The first push of monsoon moisture may pass through Clark County and Lake Mead on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
Forecasters say thunderstorms and brief rain showers – they place the probability of precipitation in Clark County at 20 percent – could continue overnight Wednesday into Thursday morning. The thunderstorms could be accompanied by winds over 40 mph, with the possibility of gusts reaching over 60 mph, forecasters said.
The winds can come up quickly and could pose a problem for fireworks displays, said Barry Pierce, a National Weather Service meteorologist.
In past years, he said, palm trees have caught on fire as illegal fireworks are shot into the air and caught in the wind. Fireworks users should be aware that wind speeds can easily shift and should postpone their displays until the winds die down.
Officials at Lake Mead National Recreation Area are reminding holiday visitors to the lake to be aware of the possibility of storms and not to take any unnecessary risks on the water.
Should a thunderstorm take place, people are advised to take shelter inside a building or car.
Drier conditions are expected Friday as the moisture is expected to move out of the area.
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