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Red Flag Warning: Weather conditions pose elevated fire danger in the Las Vegas area

National Weather Service: Red Flag Warning in effect through 9 p.m.
Posted at 5:51 AM, Jul 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-22 08:15:43-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The threat of pop-up thunderstorms over the mountains from midday through the afternoon will lead to elevated fire danger, and that's prompted a Red Flag Warning for Southern Nevada until 9 p.m.

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Although winds will be limited to 10-20 mph from the south on Tuesday, gusty outflows from any thunderstorms that form could range from 30-40 mph and that could spread any additional fires that are sparked by lightning.

Due to the marginal nature of the humidity, something called "dry lightning" is possible today, where the rain evaporates before reaching the ground but lightning strikes still occur.

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It's possible that the National Weather Service will extend the Red Flag Warning through Wednesday because winds will gust to 30 mph around Las Vegas as even drier air pushes in from California.

Make sure to follow meteorologists Justin Bruce and Dani Beckstrom on Twitter for updates around the clock.