Air quality officials issue advisory for blowing dust

By Dave Toplikar

Monday, June 4, 2012 | 10:45 a.m.

With winds expected to gust possibly higher than 50 mph today, Clark County air quality officials are asking the owners of construction sites to take precautions to try to hold down the amount of blowing dust.

But the county’s Department of Air Quality said dust levels are not at unhealthy levels.

DAQ officials said they would continue to monitor conditions and would post an alert on the forecast page of the DAQ website if unhealthy levels occur.

As part of the county’s dust-control program, officials have sent notices to construction sites Clark County to take precautions to minimize blowing dust today and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning today and Tuesday that strong winds and dry conditions could spread any wildfires in Las Vegas, the Spring Mountains, the Sheep Range, Death Valley National Park and the Mojave Desert.

In its warning, the weather service said winds will be from the southwest at 20 to 30 mph, with gusts of 35 to 45 mph possible. Humidity levels will be 10 to 15 percent this afternoon through the early evening and will then decrease to below 10 percent Tuesday, forecasters said. Highs will range from about 92 degrees on the west side of the valley to about 103 degrees on the east side, forecasters said.

The weather service also placed southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas Valley, on a wind advisory. Forecasters said gusts could be as high as 50 mph on the east side of area mountains late this afternoon through much of tonight.

The high winds are expected to be strong enough to make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles, forecasters said. Blowing dust could reduce visibility, they said.

Officials recommended securing trash cans and other loose or lightweight outdoor objects.