Hot today, but windy and cooler for Memorial Day weekend

By Dave Toplikar (contact) Friday, may 27, 2011 | at 6: 07

Warm temperatures climbing into the upper 90s and mostly sunny skies are finishing off the work week in Las Vegas.

But gusty winds Southwest and relative air humidity of around 15% will result in a fire weather watch to the area Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

An area of low pressure will move southward toward the Great Basin on Saturday since then over the area on Sunday, resulting in stronger winds and an increase in cloud, the weather service said.

Fire Weather Watch is in effect from Saturday afternoon to Saturday evening, with the West to Southwest winds 20 to 30 km/h and gusts around 40 mph. along with a humidity of 15%, winds could create conditions for forest fires, they said.

The weather service also says that strong storm system diving in Northern Nevada on Saturday evening to Sunday will produce gusty winds in the area of the lakes at the weekend.

They said gusts of 30 mph are expected on Saturday afternoon and evening and also strong winds are expected on Sunday, with gusts as high as 35-45 mph. Winds will create choppy to rough waters that can Capsize boats and other watercraft, they said.

On Sunday, afternoon temperatures 20 degrees lower than this afternoon, reaching a peak just 74 in the Valley, they said. Showers will also be possible on Sunday, mainly North of Las Vegas, forecasters said.

Monday's Memorial Day holiday will bring sunny skies, with a high near 81 degrees, forecasters said.

At 5: 56 today was the temperature at McCarran International Airport 67 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 66 degrees. Record low was 44 degrees, which in 1953.

Around the Valley just before 6 a.m. where temperatures 68 degrees North Las Vegas Airport, 62 ? at Nellis Air Force Base and 63 ? at Henderson Executive Airport.

Temperatures in the Valley was increasing day to 78 degrees with a 9 a.m. to 89 degrees at noon, and reach a high of 96 degrees of 15.00, forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 92 degrees and high record was 108 degrees, in 1974.

Temperatures are expected to be 96 degrees at 6 p.m. and then drop to 88 degrees of 9 pm and to 81 degrees at midnight, forecasters said.

Saturday's morning low is 72 degrees, and Saturday's high will climb to 91 degrees, they say.

Las Vegas expect squeezes more Memorial Day weekend

Al powers Memorial Day weekend at Tao Beach in The Venetian on May 30, 2010, By Kyle Hansen (contact) Friday, may 27, 2011 | at 1: 55

More Americans are expected to travel for Memorial Day weekend this year despite rising prices as gasoline, airfares and hotels, and Las Vegas is the No 1 target, according to some travel experts.

Las Vegas Convention and visitors authority predicted a 2 percent increase in visitors this year. Those 311,000 people will play 96% of the Las Vegas hotel room and conduct a nongaming incomes of 186.2 million dollars, the Agency said.

VEGAS.com, a travel site and sister company to the Las Vegas Sun, said the average daily room rate 15 percent for the weekend compared to last year, $ 160 one night instead of $ 129 a night, suggesting a greater demand for rooms this year.

But the price increase seems to frighten people away or get them to spend less on entertainment.

Travel Web site said visitors plan their weekend trip has earlier this year, with the booking window or time someone books a trip before their arrival, 6 percent.

And visitors have purchased 20 percent more entertainment packages this year, showing the VEGAS.com said people buy tickets before arrival instead of to the door.

The expected increase in visitors seem to share national trends.

Auto Club AAA predicts only 0.2 per cent increase in travel for the holidays, says 34.9 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home, rather than the 34.8 million who did so last year.

AAA also said the number of persons travelling by car would likely reduce the result of high gasoline prices. Average gas price April this year is the highest in 10 years, with prices 95 cents higher than a year ago.

Although automatic travel will slightly decrease nationally, it is expected the number of Americans travelling by air the weekend rise 11.5 percent compared to last year.

And the rising prices that gasoline does not appear to change many plans.

AAA says 58% of travelers say gas prices would change his plans, and only 10% of the people that said prices would prompt them to cut, said they would compensate by making shorter journeys.

"Travel continued to see an uptick in early 2011, especially for those booking vacations in advance," said Filomena Andre, Southern California, AAA vice President of products and services. "Here at the AAA, is planning an increase in the number of travellers made Memorial Day travel in January or February and before significant price increases took place. But already now we hear from members that they will adjust their expenditure to ensure that they can take a vacation weekend holiday and throughout the summer.

Travel site Priceline.com said in a recent survey 68 percent of respondents said a "staycation" was not going to be enough this year.

"This year's Memorial Day favourite list, indicates that it is serious about what they said," says Brian Ek, the site's travel expert. "Some of the smaller, local" drive-up "cities that were on the list last year, has been replaced by larger cities, countries, and the popular ' fly-to ' destinations as Las Vegas and Puerto Rico."

Las Vegas came No. 3 in the list of favorite destinations for Expedia weekend, behind Chicago and Seattle. But the list also separates Las Vegas into zones, so that the region actually displayed on the list of top 50 four times.

Promotions said Las Vegas was the No. 1 destination for booking on its website before 10 may, followed by New York, Chicago, Honolulu and San Diego.

AAA's Southern California Club sa also Las Vegas was no 1 target for its members, both the driving and flying.