Las Vegas highs near 98 degrees expected through Friday before a cooler, windier weekend arrives

What happened

The National Weather Service in Las Vegas said Monday that above-normal temperatures will continue across the region through Friday, the Las Vegas Sun reported. A low-pressure system is then expected to bring cooler and windier conditions over the weekend.

The forecast for the valley

Daily highs and lows

Forecasters expect a high of 95 degrees Monday and 96 degrees Tuesday in Las Vegas, according to the Sun. Highs are forecast to peak at 98 degrees Wednesday and Thursday before easing to 97 degrees Friday. Overnight lows are expected to stay in the mid-70s through Friday.

Heat risk level

The weather service rated heat risk in the valley as minor every day this week. That is the second-lowest of five levels. According to the outlook, it mainly affects people who are highly sensitive to heat and have no way to cool off or stay hydrated.

Higher heat risk outside Las Vegas

Mesquite, Moapa Valley and Lake Mead

Some nearby areas face more heat stress. Forecasters assigned moderate heat risk to Mesquite and the Moapa Valley on Wednesday and Thursday, and to Lake Mead National Recreation Area from Tuesday through Friday, the Sun reported. In Arizona, Kingman faces moderate risk Wednesday and Thursday, while Lake Havasu City faces it Monday through Friday.

Death Valley warning

Death Valley is expected to see the region's most severe heat. The outlook lists major heat risk there Monday and Tuesday, extreme risk Wednesday and Thursday, and major risk again Friday. Highs are forecast to reach 111 degrees at Furnace Creek on Wednesday and Thursday.

The weather service issued an extreme heat warning Sunday for elevations below 2,000 feet in Death Valley National Park. The warning remains in effect until 8 p.m. Friday and cites highs near 110 degrees and overnight lows around 85, according to the Sun.

Weekend change: cooler and windier

Temperatures and wind

The pattern is expected to shift Saturday. The Las Vegas high is forecast to dip to 92 degrees Saturday and 87 degrees Sunday as winds strengthen and turn to the south. Maximum gusts in the valley could reach 29 mph Saturday and 24 mph Sunday, compared with 16 mph or less earlier in the week.

Elsewhere, Saturday gusts could reach 30 mph in Boulder City, 33 mph in Rachel and 39 mph in Barstow, Calif., the Sun reported.

Little rain expected

Rain chances are expected to stay low. The outlook puts the chance of precipitation in Las Vegas at 5% Saturday and no higher than 15% Sunday. Sunday chances could reach 20% in Mesquite and 35% in Colorado City, Ariz.

How confident forecasters are

Morgan Stessman, a meteorologist at the weather service's Las Vegas office, said the weekly outlook carries "low confidence in exact impacts due to uncertainty regarding the forecast," according to the Sun. A six- to 10-day outlook valid Oct. 10-14 leans toward warmer-than-normal temperatures and favors above-normal precipitation in portions of the region.

The current stretch follows record warmth earlier this year. The Sun noted that Harry Reid International Airport hit 98 degrees on March 25, the hottest March day on record, during eight consecutive days of record-breaking temperatures. More coverage of conditions affecting residents is on our public safety page.

What to watch next

• Whether Las Vegas reaches the forecast peak of 98 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.
• The extreme heat warning for elevations below 2,000 feet in Death Valley National Park, in effect until 8 p.m. Friday.
• The low-pressure system expected Saturday, with valley gusts forecast up to 29 mph.
• The Oct. 10-14 outlook, which leans warmer than normal and favors above-normal precipitation in parts of the region.