Mountain Pass, California 7 Day Weather Forecast

Wx Forecast - Wx Discussion - Wx Aviation

382
FXUS65 KVEF 141131
AFDVEF

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
331 AM PST Sat Feb 14 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* A potent weather system will bring widespread precipitation,
  heavy mountain snow, and gusty winds to the region Monday into
  Tuesday.

* The weather pattern will remain active with a second, colder
  system moving through the region late Tuesday into Wednesday.

* Cooler than normal temperatures will continue through the end of
  the week as troughing persists over the region.

&&

.DISCUSSION...through Friday.

Weather over the weekend will be characterized by warmer than
normal temperatures, dry conditions, and southerly breezes. This
pleasant weather will come to an abrupt end early next week as a
potent trough rolls through the Southwestern US on Monday and
Tuesday. This system will bring a significant increase in moisture
to the area with precipitable water increasing to around 150% of
normal thanks to the plume of moisture this system has drawn up
from the tropics. Given the moisture associated with this system,
it is unsurprising that we are expecting widespread showers across
the region early next week with heavy snow expected in the
mountains of Inyo County and southern Nevada. A Winter Storm Watch
remains in effect for the Eastern Sierra and the White Mountains
of Inyo County from late Sunday night through Wednesday evening,
as confidence is high that heavy snow and strong winds will result
in moderate-to-major impacts. Snow-levels will start off around
6,000 to 7,000 feet, but will fall overnight from Monday into
Tuesday as this system moves overhead. This will bring the
potential for rain transitioning to snow in the Owens Valley and
elevations above 5,000 feet in the southern Great Basin. Locations
below the snow line can expect light- to-moderate showers
resulting in wet, slick roadways, water flowing in normally dry
washes, and the ponding of water on roads in low- lying areas. In
addition to widespread precipitation, this system will also bring
cooler temperatures and strong southerly winds to the region, with
widespread 30 to 40+ mph wind gusts expected early next week.

A second, colder system will drop into the region right on the
heels of the aforementioned Monday-Tuesday system. This second
system will bring another round of precipitation chances to the
area late Tuesday into Wednesday. Snow levels with this second
system will start off lower, around 4,000 to 5,000 feet, resulting
in more widespread winter weather impacts across Inyo County, the
Great Basin, and northwestern Arizona. There is even a chance for
winter impacts to extend into San Bernardino County with snow at
Mountain Pass and in the higher terrain of the Mojave National
Preserve. As was the case with the first system, elevations below
the snow line can expect to see light-to-moderate rain showers as
this second system rolls through. Strong southerly winds will
continue through Tuesday with 30 to 40+ mph wind gusts expected
throughout the day. Precipitation will taper off on Wednesday with
winds beginning to trend downward as the second system moves
clears out.

Colder than normal temperatures will continue through the end of the
week as troughing continues over the region. We may see shortwaves
embedded in the upper-level flow move through the area during the
second half of the week. However, precipitation chances with these
systems will be limited as the anomalous moisture that fueled
showers earlier in the week will have been scoured from the area.

&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Winds
will remain light and follow typical daily directional patterns
with some variability through the forecast period. VFR conditions
prevail, with increasing mid-level and high clouds late this
morning onward with bases around 15-20kft.


For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 12Z Forecast Package...Winds across the
region will remain around 5-10KT and follow typical daily
directional patterns with a couple of exceptions. First, in the
Owens Valley, including KBIH, gusty up-valley winds are expected
to develop late this morning onward, with gusts to around 20KT
increasing to around 30KT this afternoon before diminishing
overnight. Second, a brief period of gusty southeasterly winds is
expected at KHND in the southern Las Vegas Valley this evening,
with gusts to around 15-18KT. Otherwise, VFR conditions prevail
with mid- level and high clouds with bases around 15-20kft
gradually overspreading the area from west to east and increasing
in coverage this evening onward.


&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...Stessman
AVIATION...Phillipson

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