LAS VEGAS — Heat and rain advisories are common in Las Vegas, but strong wind advisories can be among the most disruptive weather events in the valley.
Wind advisories in the Las Vegas valley can have a hard impact on daily life, from driving to flight disruptions. As a city that sees millions of visitors coming through, flight disruptions can cause serious delays and congestion. For example, just last month, a massive winter storm sweeping across the country had far-reaching effects that caused hundreds of flight disruptions at Harry Reid International Airport. Air disruptions can have a ripple effect on the economy.
The reason why Las Vegas gets strong winds is because of its geography. NWS Las Vegas Warning Coordination Meteorologist Dan Berc explains that the mountains surrounding the city play a large role in how wind affects the city:
“When we have wind that comes over the mountains, it can’t go through [the mountains], so it has to go over, and when wind comes down the mountain, it accelerates.”
The open desert geography makes it harder to drive high-profile vehicles due to the crosswinds that can cause vehicles to roll over or drift between lanes. High winds can also increase traffic congestion and force construction projects to temporarily halt.
