Las Vegas sets high temperature record as warm spell continues

By Dave Toplikar

Thursday, Jan. 5, 2012 | 4:26 a.m.

If you like warm winters, Las Vegas is the place to be — temperatures climbing into the mid to upper 60s are sticking around, says Kevin Janison, KSNV-TV meteorologist.

"Livin’ large continues in January 2012! Wednesday’s high of 68 degrees tied the record, set just five years ago," Janison said.

He doesn't expect an encore today, since the record for today's date is 71 degrees.

"However, the warmth will be upon us with high temps again surging into the mid to upper 60s following the morning low of 42 degrees," he said.

A pattern-interrupting disturbance is still scheduled to make an appearance over the weekend and it has shown signs of strengthening, Janison said.

"It doesn’t appear to carry much moisture, but winds will be a factor and so will cooler air. The winds are expected Sunday, and temps for a couple of days will be … normal, back to the 50s for highs," he said.

The National Weather Service is predicting this morning’s low at McCarran International Airport to be 42 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 39 degrees. The record low was 12 degrees, set in 1950.

Temperatures at McCarran were to rise today to 51 degrees by 9 a.m., to 62 degrees by noon and reach a high of 66 degrees by 3 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 57 degrees and the record high was 71 degrees, set in 2003.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 59 degrees by 6 p.m., to 50 degrees by 9 p.m. and to 46 degrees by midnight, forecasters said.

Friday's morning low will be 41 degrees and Friday's high will climb to 65 degrees, they said.