Highs climbing into 60s today, but rain possible for weekend in Las Vegas

By Dave Toplikar

Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012 | 4:34 a.m.

Get set for a day with temperatures climbing into the low 60s today — but the Las Vegas Valley might see some rain this weekend, says Kevin Janison, KSNV-TV meteorologist.

"That huge storm in the Pacific Northwest has tossed a few high clouds into our sky," Janison said. "That pattern, with occasional cirrus clouds, will continue today."

You can plan on another cold start, dipping into the mid-30s again, but the mercury will climb above the 60-degree mark this afternoon, Janison said.

"A shift in the jet stream is the weather headline. A series of weather systems in the Pacific will continue approaching the West Coast," he said.

It now appears as if Northern California and Northern Nevada will received the brunt of them through the weekend, he said.

"However, we should be right on the edge of the strongest of the systems late Sunday, leading to a slight chance for rain in the Valley Sunday night and Monday," Janson said. "Any wobble in the storm track, and the weekend forecast could change significantly. Stay tuned."

According to the National Weather Service, this morning’s low at McCarran International Airport was expected to be 35 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 40 degrees. The record low was 10 degrees, set in 1943.

Temperatures at McCarran were to rise today to 45 degrees by 9 a.m., to 56 degrees by noon and reach a high of 61 degrees by 3 p.m., forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 58 degrees and the record high was 74 degrees, set in 1971.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 57 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 63 degrees, they said.