1st winter storm lives up to billing, with 61 mph gust, snow and rain

The archetypal large tempest of wintertime delivered astir the punch that was forecast, giving Southern Nevadans a wind-whipped, bedewed and chilly Tuesday evening.

Officially 0.13 inches of moisture was recorded astatine recently renamed Harry Reid International Airport portion gusting winds dropped upwind chills into the mid-30s overnight.

About a ft of snowfall fell successful the Mount Charleston area, somewhat much than had been called for by the National Weather Wervice.

“Lee Canyon got astir 11 inches and immoderate areas were a small higher, but wide astir a foot,” meteorologist Andy Gorelow said Wednesday.

Red Rock received the astir rainfall astatine 0.54 inches portion astir parts of the vale recorded anyplace from a tenth to a 4th of an inch, Gorelow said.

The astir important lawsuit mightiness person been a upwind gust of 61 mph astatine 7:41 p.m. Tuesday astatine the airport.

“It was the 2nd strongest December upwind gust since 1959,” Gorelow said. “We had a 63 mph gust connected Christmas Day 1959 and 61 mph connected Dec. 22, 2009.”

Lee Canyon to unfastened beginner terrain

Officials astatine Lee Canyon said Wednesday that it volition unfastened the Rabbit Peak quad seat serving its beginner terrain astatine 9 a.m. Friday.

Daily assistance tickets tin beryllium purchased successful beforehand and online for $29, pricing that reflects the resort’s phased opening.

Season walk holders should person their 2021/22 walk earlier heading to the chairlift. In the past 24 hours, Lee Canyon received 17 inches of snow, making full snowfall for the twelvemonth 35 inches.

Before traveling to Lee Canyon, guests should cheque roadworthy conditions astatine www.NVroads.com.

Parking reservations are unnecessary this year; however, different authorities and region COVID-19 guidelines volition beryllium successful effect, including mandatory look masks portion indoors. Lee Canyon is unfastened regular during the wintertime from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Planning connected heading up to Mt. Charleston? Make definite to cheque the roadworthy conditions earlier you go! 🏔️❄️🛣️🚙 #NVwx https://t.co/2mJV8r6r4M

— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) December 15, 2021

As forecast, the tempest beforehand ushered successful a acold spell that volition past into the weekend.

A Thursday precocious of 51 is predicted with airy winds. Friday’s precocious whitethorn emergence to 54. Overnight lows volition beryllium successful the mid-30s.

“Temperatures volition beryllium a spot beneath mean (56) into the play earlier immoderate precocious unit builds and we whitethorn get backmost to the 60s (for highs),” Gorelow said.

Contact Marvin Clemons astatine mclemons@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Marv_in_Vegas connected Twitter.