Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Lake Havasu City, AZ

DISCUSSION
Through Next Friday.

An extended stretch of relatively quiet and warm weather is expected for the Lower Great Basin and Mojave Desert through at least next Thursday. The only "active" weather to mention are breezy conditions today and tomorrow, specifically for the Colorado River Valley where Lake Wind Advisories are in effect.

A sharp upper level trough shifts southeast today placing the region in an area of increasing northerly flow, leading to dry conditions and breezy north winds today and tomorrow. The surface pressure gradient is not overly impressive and widespread gusts 20-30 mph gusts with stronger gusts due to terrain enhancement in the Colorado River Valley are expected. While Laughlin/Bullhead City may briefly see 45 MPH winds, northerly gusts in the Colorado River should remain around 30-35 MPH. Impacts to boating due to winds and building waves are expected on Lake Mohave and Lake Havasu and a Lake Wind Advisory is in effect through Saturday afternoon.

For the rest of the weekend and into next week, a building ridge and a Polar jet retreating northward will keep the storm track far away from the region. Guidance continues to show above normal upper level heights with this ridge as well as surface to 850mb temperature anomalies well above normal for this time of year. This translates to high temperatures in the 70s to low 80s and lows in the 50s generally for desert valleys. Cooler conditions expected for higher elevations but still above normal. A weak wave of energy passes through the ridge early next week; however sensible impacts to surface weather conditions will be minimal as a warm and dry airmass remains in place. Expect the ridge to re-strengthen over the Desert Southwest mid next week ahead of the next potential storm system.
Forecast confidence is fairly high through the period with strong agreement among ensemble and deterministic guidance.

Forecast confidence falls going into the following weekend as a strong trough approaches the west coast. Since this system is more than a week away, expect model disagreement and run to run inconsistencies this far out. While confidence is higher in an overall pattern change next weekend into the end of the month featuring troughing and possible chances for precipitation, confidence is lower on the exact details and evolution of that pattern.

AVIATION
For Harry Reid
For the 00Z Forecast Package
Elevated northerly winds gusting between 20 and 25 knots will continue into the early evening. Sustained wind speeds decrease to less than 10 knots and direction shifts to the northwest overnight. Lighter winds can be expected tomorrow. VFR conditions continue through the TAF period.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California
For the 00Z Forecast Package
Gusty northerly winds should start to weaken in the evening. In the Colorado River Valley, peak gusts will be in the 25 to 35 knot range, decrease slightly overnight, then strengthen again tomorrow. In the Las Vegas Valley, peak gusts will be between 20 and 25 knots, with lighter winds expected overnight and tomorrow. VFR conditions will persist through the TAF period.

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