Rain in Las Vegas Valley, snow in the mountains by Friday

This weekend will be cloudy and rainy as a storm heads into the Las Vegas Valley as early as Thursday night, the National Weather Service said.

The storm is also expected to bring heavy snow between 7,000 and 8,000 feet in the Mount Charleston area, the Weather Service said. Ski resort levels over 8,000 feet may see nearly 2 feet of fresh powder.

Thursday will be mostly cloudy and warm with light winds and a high of 71 degrees, meteorologist John Salmen said. South winds between 10 and 20 mph are expected to develop in the afternoon, and a 20 percent chance of rain is anticipated Thursday night, the Weather Service said.

Chances for showers will increase to 70 percent Friday and Saturday and temperatures will be cooler. Breezes between 15 and 25 mph can be expected through the weekend, the Weather Service said, tapering off Sunday.

Friday’s forecast high is 60 degrees; Saturday’s high will be near 59 degrees. Temperatures are expected to drop to the lower 50s overnight during the storm system.

Sunday “warms a little bit” with a high of 63 degrees. Clouds from the storm should dissipate Sunday, but “some high clouds may filter in late in the day,” Salmen said.

The start of next week should be dry and a little warmer, with temperature highs in the mid-to-upper 60s.

Review-Journal reporter Rio Lacanlale contributed to this story. Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Follow @lawrenlinehan on Twitter.