Low-pressure system to bring rain, snow and move on

Southern Nevadans might want to get out their umbrellas and winter coats again as the new year approaches, a weather official said Monday.

Clay Morgan, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, said there is an 80 percent chance of rain on Wednesday. Quick-hitting rain showers could bring 0.1 to 0.25 inches of rain to the valley.

Morgan said the low-pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska will sweep in cooler air, which will dramatically lower temperatures and might even turn raindrops to snowflakes Wednesday night. But the snow is not expected to stick, Morgan said.

The precipitation is not expected to cause new problems for areas that experienced flooding last week. Residents of Mount Charleston, who were socked by winter storms last week, will receive another blast of snow between tonight and Wednesday night.

Morgan said a winter storm watch will be in effect for Mount Charleston starting tonight . Between 10 and 18 inches of snow is expected to fall at elevations above 7,000 feet and 5 to 10 inches of snow is expected to drop at elevations between 5,000 feet and 7,000 feet by Wednesday evening.

The inclement weather is supposed to last for only one day.

"This is not nearly of the same magnitude as the storm from last week," Morgan said. Last week's storm lasted for several days and dropped 80 to 90 inches of snow at 8,000 feet. The storms knocked out power lines for hundreds of Mount Charleston residents and prompted officials to issue avalanche warnings.

In the Las Vegas Valley, when the precipitation stops, the temperatures will drop. Thursday's high is expected to be 43 degrees with a low of 33; Friday's high is 41 degrees with a low of 30 degrees.

The new year is expected to ring in with more of the same. A high temperature of 43 degrees is expected Saturday with a low of 28 degrees.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.