Strong winds, cold nights expected in Las Vegas this weekend

Hold on to your Santa hats, Las Vegas. Strong winds are ahead.

Gusts up to 40 mph are expected Saturday, with winds throughout the day ranging from 20 mph to 30 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Following the winds will come cold temperatures after sundown, said meteorologist Nathan Foster.

Valley weather was about 7 degrees warmer Wednesday than the normal high for this time of year, Foster said. The afternoon high was 63 degrees; the normal is 56.

Christmas Eve will be cloudy with highs in the mid 50s and lows about 41 degrees, Foster said. Christmas Day will see a high temperature of 48 and a nighttime low in the mid 30s, Foster said.

As for snow, "It's definitely not impossible" that the valley could see flurries Christmas morning, Foster said. While snow showers are expected to sweep across Southern Nevada on Saturday, Las Vegas will see little or no accumulation.

A big system pushing through the valley Saturday morning should bring winds and cooler nighttime temperatures, Foster said.

"The biggest story is the lows," Foster said.

A high of 45 degrees is forecast for Saturday before temperatures at night drop down into the upper 20s, he said.

Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @KimberlyinLV. Contact Kimber Laux at klaux@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @lauxkimber.