FXUS65 KVEF 190851 AFDVEF Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 151 AM PDT Thu Mar 19 2026 .KEY MESSAGES... * Heat headlines remain in effect as an unprecedented March heatwave continues into next week. && .DISCUSSION...through Wednesday. We saw monthly high temperature records set at 5 of our 7 climate sites yesterday. Expect these to be rewritten today, and again on Friday. The sites that didn't break their March records (Bishop and Death Valley) are likely to today and/or Friday. At the peak of the heatwave, temperatures will approach all-time April records. Temperatures cool slightly Sunday and Monday as a weak shortwave passes by, but models show the ridge strengthening again next week. Basically, temperatures are going to run well above normal for at least the next 7 days, if not longer. We're running out of ways to describe how anomalous this heat is, but I'll try a new one. Using extended temperature forecasts for Las Vegas from the NBM and raw ensemble data, this March has the potential to finish with an average temperature of 71.5-72 degrees. Not only would this demolish the old March record of 66.7 degrees, but if we were to pretend it was April, it would rank as the third hottest April on record. Obviously, there's still a fair amount of uncertainty in how warm the last week of March will be given it's over 7 days away, but it's very likely (80%) to at least run above normal. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Light winds under 8KT are expected today through tonight. East winds will develop around 18Z this afternoon then shift southeast after 21Z. Typical southwest winds return tonight around sunset. Clear skies will persist through the period. Very warm temperatures are expected through the weekend as high temperatures climb over 90 degrees each afternoon. There is a 20% chance temperatures reach or exceed 100 degrees on Friday, then a 10% chance on Saturday. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Breezy north winds will develop around KIFP gusts up to 20KT develop after later this morning, however these elevated winds in the Colorado River Valley should remain isolated to this area and will diminish after 21Z. Elsewhere, expect light winds under 10KT to follow typical directional patterns today and tonight. Clear skies will persist through the period. && .CLIMATE...Numerous climate locations have a forecast high temperature and/or forecast warm low temperature within 3 degrees of the daily record. The table below shows the daily record maximum temperature and the year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which records are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast). MAX THU, MAR 19 FRI, MAR 20 SAT, MAR 21 SUN, MAR 22 Record(Yr) Record(Yr) Record (Yr) Record (Yr) Las Vegas 90(2017)* 90(2004)* 92(2004)* 91(2004)* Bishop 82(2004)* 84(2004)* 84(2004)* 83(2004)* Needles 98(2017)* 97(2004)* 98(2004)* 97(2004)* Daggett 89(2017)* 94(1997)* 92(2004)* 92(2004)* Kingman 85(1907)* 89(2004)* 89(2004)* 87(2004)* Desert Rock 85(1997)* 86(2004)* 87(2004)* 87(2004)* Death Valley 99(2017)* 97(2004)* 101(2004)* 102(2004)* The table below shows the daily record warm minimum temperature and the year the record was last set. An asterisk (*) denotes which records are in jeopardy (within 3 degrees of the forecast). WARM MIN THU, MAR 19 FRI, MAR 20 SAT, MAR 21 SUN, MAR 22 Record(Yr) Record(Yr) Record (Yr) Record (Yr) Las Vegas 63(2017)* 68(2017)* 69(2017)* 62(2015)* Bishop 48(2013)* 46(2013)* 47(1978)* 46(1963)* Needles 68(1914) 69(2017) 70(2017) 68(2004)* Daggett 61(2013)* 60(2017)* 59(1978)* 62(2015)* Kingman 54(1953)* 54(1936)* 54(1978)* 55(2004)* Desert Rock 53(2013)* 59(2017)* 58(2017)* 54(2018)* Death Valley 75(1916)* 73(2017)* 73(2017)* 72(2022)* && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && $$ DISCUSSION...Woods AVIATION...Nickerson For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter