525 FXUS65 KVEF 081148 AFDVEFArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 448 AM PDT Mon Sep 8 2025
.KEY MESSAGES...
* Dense smoke and poor air quality to continue through the morning hours in the northern Owens Valley, and may reoccur the next few nights.
* A Pacific trough brings cooler, drier, and windier conditions this week.
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.DISCUSSION...through Sunday.
Area webcams show the dense wildfire smoke that settled into the northern Owens Valley this evening. Visibility at the Bishop Airport has ranged between 1-2 miles all night. Meanwhile, air quality sensors depict unhealthy air quality in the area. These conditions are likely to persist through the morning hours. By the afternoon, surface heating and increased winds should help mix out and disperse some of the smoke, but it may return again in the evening and subsequent evenings. Behavior of the Garnet Fire will dictate the severity of smoke.
Otherwise, the main weather of note will be the seasonably pleasant conditions expected this week thanks to a Pacific trough pushing into the region. Southwest breezes have already begun to scour out moisture and precipitation chances, and that continues today with PoPs limited to Mohave County and only ~10%. Beyond that, the only notable precipitation chances (10-30%) reside in the Sierra and our NW zones due to the trough itself. For the rest of the area, expecting dry conditions and gusty southwest winds of 20-40 mph this week. Temperatures across the area gradually decrease through Thursday, eventually falling 8-12 degrees below normal. As we head into the weekend, temperatures rebound slightly while quieter conditions return.
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.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Southwesterly winds are expected for a majority of the forecast period, with sustained speeds increasing to 10-15KT this afternoon, with gusts to 20-25KT through early evening. Gusts diminish overnight, with another round of gusts expected to develop by mid morning Tuesday. VFR conditions prevail with temperatures remaining just below 100 degrees.
For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Light and variable winds early this morning will settle out of the southwest by early afternoon, with gusts to 20-25KT common across the region. Across the western Mojave Desert, winds maintain more of a westerly direction through the forecast period, with at least intermittent gusts to around 25kt expected. Gusts largely diminish after sunset, with wind speeds around 10KT or less overnight. Through central and northern Inyo County, including the Owens Valley, wildfire smoke remains a significant concern. Expect MVFR/IFR conditions due to smoke this morning until gusty up- valley winds develop this afternoon, providing some reprieve before northerly winds this evening once again allow smoke to settle into the Valley. Elsewhere, VFR conditions prevail.
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.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures.
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DISCUSSION...Woods AVIATION...Phillipson
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NWS VEF Office Area Forecast Discussion