High winds in Las Vegas Valley delay some McCarran flights
Strong gusts blew through the Las Vegas Valley on Wednesday evening, causing flight delays at McCarran International Airport and forcing at least two holiday attractions to close early.
Gusts were reported throughout the Las Vegas Valley, with reported gusts of 60 mph in North Las Vegas and 64 mph near Las Vegas’s western edge, the National Weather Service said Wednesday evening. Other portions of the valley saw winds between 35 mph and 45 mph, according to the weather service.
Wind roars through Las Vegas like a freight train as the first day of winter nears. #nvwx #weather #photography pic.twitter.com/TRkJq7Kdji
— Dan Behringer ✪ (@DanBehringer221) December 21, 2017
Red Rock Canyon saw a gust reach 68 mph Wednesday night, meteorologist John Salmen said.
Gusts at McCarran topped out at 52 mph, according to the weather service, and McCarran airport’s website reported dozens of flights were delayed Wednesday night.
“Due to windy weather conditions, flights in and out of Las Vegas may be delayed this evening and into the morning,” a post on the airport’s Twitter account said. “Please check with your airline for up-to-date flight information.”
Due to windy weather conditions, flights in and out of Las Vegas may be delayed this evening and into the morning. Please check with your airline for up-to-date flight information. #travel #VegasWeather
— McCarran Airport (@LASairport) December 21, 2017
Opportunity Village tweeted its Magical Forest closed for the night due to the winds, but was expected to be open Thursday. Similarly, Wet ‘N’ Wild posted on social media it had closed its Las Vegas Christmas Town attractions for the night because of the winds.
A cold front moving into the valley early Wednesday evening brought with it a 15 percent chance of light rain.
The weather service said sprinkles had been reported in the north valley but no precipitation landed at McCarran, keeping the valley’s record-threatening dry streak intact.
The record, set in 1944, is 101 days. If the valley remains dry through Saturday, the record would be broken Sunday.
Salmen said dry conditions can be expected through the weekend.
“We look pretty good for holding onto this dry streak,” Salmen said.
With Wednesday’s wild winds came a cold front, and forecasts for Thursday through Saturday call for highs in the low- to mid-50s. Breezy conditions will continue into Thursday, Salmen said. The weather service said winds should blow between 15 and 25 mph, as well as gust up to 30 to 35 mph.
“It’ll definitely be windy enough to notice,” Salmen said.
After a low of 40 degrees Thursday, temperatures could dip to as low as 32 degrees Friday. Temperatures should bottom out in the low-to-mid-30s through the weekend.
Contact Mike Shoro at mshoro@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Follow @mike_shoro on Twitter. Review-Journal staff writer Blake Apgar contributed to the story.
