Weather · Las Vegas
Las Vegas weather turns cooler, wetter and windier from Friday night
The National Weather Service says calm weather holds through Friday morning, then showers, cooler air and gusty winds are possible through next week.
November 11, 2026 at 6:00 AM · Vegas Support Center
Las Vegas has quiet, pleasant weather through Friday morning, but the National Weather Service in Las Vegas says a pattern change is on the way. In a Wednesday morning post, the office said unsettled conditions are expected over the weekend and into next week, with cooler temperatures, periodic gusty winds and chances for precipitation.
Skies were clear across the Mojave Desert and Great Basin early Wednesday, with high pressure dominating much of the western U.S. The forecast office said the changes are building over the eastern Pacific, where a large trough sits over the southern Gulf of Alaska.
The first piece of that system is a smaller disturbance expected to close off and pass south of the region on Friday. A second, stronger one is forecast to swing through Northern California and the Great Basin from Friday night into Saturday. That is the one forecasters expect to bring cooler air and a chance of showers to the Las Vegas area late Friday into Saturday.
Most of the moisture is expected to be used up over the Sierra, and the system is moving quickly. Forecasters said a respectable plume of moisture is still expected to cross the deserts, which raises their confidence in at least some light rainfall in desert areas. Residents should not expect a major soaking, but wet roads are possible late Friday night and Saturday morning, so allow extra time for travel.
The Sierra will see the heavier impact. The weather service issued a winter storm watch there because of moderate to locally heavy snow, mainly above 7,000 feet, where 5 to 10 inches are possible in the Aspendell area. Anyone planning a weekend trip across the Sierra should check conditions before leaving.
Back in the Las Vegas area, the break does not last long. Forecasters expect a ridge of high pressure to build in from Saturday night into Sunday, bringing dry conditions back. The storm track is expected to stay active, though, with more systems approaching from the eastern Pacific.
The next chance for widespread precipitation and gusty winds arrives Monday into Tuesday. Forecasters said additional storm systems are possible later in the week. Details are still being worked out, so timing and amounts may shift as the weekend approaches.
For today, conditions at Harry Reid International Airport are calm. Winds are light and follow normal daily patterns, skies are clear and flying conditions are good. Across the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California, light breezes are expected today and tonight.
Residents can use the next two days to take care of outdoor tasks, secure loose items that could blow around in gusty wind, and check that rain gear and warm clothing are within reach. The weather service encourages weather spotters to report any significant weather or impacts.
What to do next
- Read the current forecast and advisories from the National Weather Service in Las Vegas. NWS Las Vegas →
- Check current closures before you leave and plan another route. Call 511 Nevada Roads →
- See rain and flood conditions from the Regional Flood Control District. Call 702-685-0000 Regional Flood Control →
- Never drive or walk into moving water. Turn around and take another way.
Source: National Weather Service Las Vegas (X), National Weather Service Las Vegas