000 FXUS65 KVEF 272232 CCA AFDLAS MOJAVE DESERT/SOUTHERN GREAT BASIN AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV 330 PM PDT MON MAY 27 2002 SYNOPSIS...A SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE SOUTHERN GREAT BASIN AND MOJAVE DESERT TUESDAY BEFORE A STRONG RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE REGION WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. THIS WILL BRING A WARMING TREND WITH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY CLIMBING TO THE HIGHEST READINGS SO FAR THIS YEAR. DISCUSSION...SOME CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AGAIN COULD BE SEEN ON SATELLITE IMAGERY THIS AFTERNOON EXTENDING FROM WEST CENTRAL TO NORTHEAST NEVADA. THUNDERSTORMS MAY BE CLOSE TO OUR NORTHERN FORECAST AREA BOUNDARY. THE BAND OF HIGH CLOUDS WITH THE TROUGH APPROACHING THE WEST COAST WILL MAKE ITS WAY ACROSS THE AREA TUESDAY BUT IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO TELL HOW WELL THEY WILL HANG TOGETHER. THE AVN INDICATES PROBABLY MORE SUNSHINE THAN CLOUDS OVER THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE AREA AND KEPT THE FORECAST THAT WAY. WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WILL BRING THE MOST NOTICEABLE TREND IN THE SHORT TERM AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB UNDER A RATHER STRONG RIDGE. THURSDAY LOOKS TO BE THE HOTTEST DAY SO FAR THIS YEAR. THE FORECAST BECOMES A LITTLE MORE INTERESTING AND COMPLICATED FROM FRIDAY AND BEYOND. THE AVN SHOWS A SOUTHEAST OR SOUTHERLY FLOW DEVELOPING BETWEEN A WEAK CLOSED LOW OFF THE BAJA COAST AND A HIGH OVER THE ROCKIES. SHOULD THIS PATTERN HOLD...IT WOULD BE FAVORABLE FOR BRINGING UP MID AND HIGH LEVEL TROPICAL MOISTURE (ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM ALMA) INTO THE REGION FRIDAY. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES INCREASE TO OVER ONE INCH BY SATURDAY MORNING INTO SOUTHERN NEVADA. THE MOISTURE INCREASE ALONG WITH MID LEVEL COOLING COULD LEAD TO AN ACTIVE THUNDERSTORM DAY. WILL HOLD OFF ON TOTALLY JUMPING ON THIS TREND NOW...BUT DECIDED TO LEAD INTO IT WITH A MENTION OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER MOST MOUNTAINS SATURDAY. SOUTHWEST FLOW IS FORECAST SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS A TROUGH DEVELOPS OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC. THIS WOULD SWEEP MOISTURE TO THE EAST EXCEPT OVER CENTRAL NEVADA WHICH REMAINS IN A DEFORMATION ZONE. IF ADDITIONAL MODEL RUNS CONTINUE TO HOLD THIS TREND...POPS AND COVERAGE WILL NEED TO BE INCREASED FOR SATURDAY. ADAIR .LAS...NONE.