Residents of Las Vegas celebrated White Valentine’s Day on Tuesday after a cold, windy weather system brought rain and snow to high-altitude areas of Nevada and Arizona.
A cold front hit the region Tuesday morning, bringing wind gusts of over 50 miles per hour and snow-covered showers to parts of Nevada and Arizona.
A winter storm warning is in effect until 11 p.m. Tuesday for elevations above 4,000 feet, including Colorado, Arizona, according to the National Weather Service. These areas can see 2-10 inches of snow and gusts of up to 45 mph.
Winter weather advisories have also been issued for areas above 4,000 feet in Arizona, including Doran Springs, Wikiep, Kingman, and the Hualapai Mountains. Travel on Interstate 40 can be hazardous. Expect up to 5 inches of snow and gusts of up to 45 mph.
Nevada resident posted video of blizzard Tuesday afternoon Las Vegasbut also Sky Canyon Park and Harry Reed International Airport.
Showers are expected to move eastward from Tuesday night and continue through Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Temperatures during this time of year are expected to be 10-12 degrees cooler than normal.
Strong winds are expected to continue through Wednesday afternoon until it subsides. A high wind warning is in effect for California’s Owens Valley and San Bernardino County.
It’s forecast to be cold in the second half of the week. A severe freeze warning was issued for central Mojave County in Arizona, particularly in the Kingman area, from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning. Temperatures can drop below freezing.
Temperatures could rise to near-normal over the weekend as Friday’s southerly winds could bring a brief respite from chilly weather.