LAS VEGAS (KSNV & MyNews3) -- The National Weather Service has upgraded the high wind watch for Saturday to a high wind warning in the Spring Mountains and Las Vegas Valley and to a wind advisory for the remainder of Clark County.
In addition, Clark County officials have issued a warning about unhealthy dust levels.
Winds in the Spring Mountains will be from the southwest to west at 30 to 45 mph with gusts around 70 mph.
Strong downslope winds are expected to spread east off the Spring Mountains into the west side of the valley with gusts around 60 mph possible mainly west of Rainbow Boulevard.
The remainder of the valley will see gusts in the 40 to 45 mph range. The high wind warning is in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday. Winds are expected to diminish in the evening.
Clark County officials said unhealthy levels of dust are not occurring as of today. As part of the county's dust-control program, air-quality officials are sending notices to construction sites in the valley and other outlying areas in the county, asking them to take precautions to prevent blowing dust.
Officials will continue to monitor conditions and will post an alert on the forecast page of the DAQEM website if unhealthy levels actually occur.
Click this link to visit the forecast page.
Residents are encouraged to call Air Quality’s dust-complaint hotline at 385-DUST to report excessive amounts of blowing dust. Officials also recommend the following tips to keep dust down:
- Drive slowly on unpaved roads.
- Don’t take short cuts across vacant lots.
- Ride off-road vehicles in approved areas outside the urban Las Vegas Valley.
- Fence off barren property or cover it with gravel, rock, or desert-friendly landscaping.
