Monday winds reached hurricane strength, but lighter breezes in store Tuesday

After a windy start to the week, the Las Vegas Valley is in for a cold Tuesday with some lighter, lingering breezes, National Weather Service officials said.

All sports fields are OPEN tonight despite the wind. Be safe out there! pic.twitter.com/6qfQfguWIR

— City of Las Vegas (@CityOfLasVegas) March 28, 2016

The high is expected to reach 63 degrees with a morning low of 48, said Jim Harrison, weather service meteorologist. He added the valley could see some sprinkling rain in the north but shouldn’t see gusts faster than 15 mph.

Wednesday’s high should be 65, and temperatures will begin to climb after that with Thursday’s high expected at 72 degrees and Friday’s high at 78. Weekend temperatures will likely break into the 80s, he added.

On Monday, gusts in the valley reached speeds of 50 and 60 mph, with the highest recorded speed at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: 78 mph. That tops the qualifying speed for a Category 1 hurricane — 75 mph — Harrison said.

7pm- Winds will subside thru tonite. Here are some gusts so far. Check back 4 more complete list #nvwx #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/LbbTj55aTT

— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) March 29, 2016

The gusts weren’t unique to the valley — similar weather in Death Valley National Park created a dust devil that flipped a camping trailer at the park’s Texas Springs campground, officials said. No one was inside or injured at the time, but the wind also broke several nearby vehicles’ windows and injured one man when his face was slashed by a flapping portion of his tent.

Dust Devil at Eureka Dunes by Jeanette Meleen pic.twitter.com/GhUKrp1yir

— Death Valley NP (@DeathValleyNPS) March 28, 2016

Many other tents either blew away or were destroyed; spokeswoman Abbey Wines said one was spotted about 1,500 feet up in the air near the park’s Sunset campground.

High-speed winds were also contributing factor for a multi-vehicle crash in California’s Lucerne Valley, which is south of Barstow and east of Victorville. The winds kicked up dust that caused low-visibility, and the crash left 28 injured — three critically — on the state’s Highway 18 at Rabbit Springs Road, according to San Bernardino County Fire Department officials.

LUCERNE VALLEY(update): #SBCoFD reports blowing dust in the area. Updated patient count 20-25 minor injuries. pic.twitter.com/STrL6dA3HH

— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) March 29, 2016

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Find her on Twitter: @rachelacrosby