Western valley sees light snow as cold front plunges into Las Vegas

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Saturday, April 9, 2011 | 6:08 a.m.

Updated Saturday, April 9, 2011 | 12:41 p.m.

A rare April winter storm brought light snow to the western Las Vegas Valley on Saturday amid temperatures that stayed about 20 degrees below normal.

Scattered storms formed this afternoon over Clark County moving east at 10 mph, bringing the threat of small hail and gusty winds, the National Weather Service said. The storm ushered in light snow over parts of the western valley.

Forecasters said the high temperature in Las Vegas was expected to reach about 57 degrees Saturday afternoon, although the western valley was expected to top out in the low 50s. The noon temperature at McCarran International Airport, the city's official weather reporting station, was 52 degrees.

A cold low pressure system was moving from California and into Southern Nevada this afternoon before reaching Arizona and Utah by Saturday night, the weather service said.

Significant snow accumulations were expected above elevations of 4,500 feet in northwest Arizona before tapering off to scattered showers in the afternoon, forecasters said. Lighter snow was possible in the mountains of Clark County, where temperatures at the highest peaks were only expected to reach about 20 degrees Saturday.

As the storm moves east tonight, improving conditions will be seen, with temperatures warming to normal levels next week.

Sunday's morning low will be 46 degrees and Sunday's high will climb to 68 degrees, forecasters said. After a high of 73 on Monday, temperatures will be in the upper 70s Tuesday and Wednesday under mostly sunny skies.

Weather service records indicate the average high on today's date at McCarran is 76 degrees. The coldest high temperature recorded on today's date was 54 degrees, set in 1943.