Vegas to hit near-record high Sunday; rain expected Monday

Put away your winter coats, Las Vegas. The warm weather is here to stay for a few more days.

But you might get your raincoats and umbrellas ready for Monday.

After a sunny Saturday with a high of 68 degrees, Sunday’s temperatures will reach near-record highs, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Outler.

With clear skies forecast through Sunday night, temperatures are expected to top 70 — climbing as high as 72, he said. Sunday’s forecast high is just 3 degrees short of the record 75 degrees recorded on Jan. 25, 1953, and over 13 degrees above the average valley high of 59 degrees.

“We’ve had a lot of high pressure that has brought more mild, drier weather,” Outler said.

Outler expects storms to move into the area Monday, with around a quarter inch of rain falling through Tuesday. Though temperatures will remain relatively mild, in the low to mid-60s, chances of rain will reach 60 percent by Monday night extending through Tuesday afternoon.

Outler said sporadic snow showers will be seen at 7,500 feet and above, and up to 4 inches could stick at the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort.

High temperatures will rise back up to the mid- to high 60s by Wednesday, Outler said.

Contact Chris Kudialis at ckudialis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283. Find him on Twitter: @kudialisrj.