Thread by @NWSVegas

THREAD: Let's talk about #HurricaneKay and its expected influence across the Southwest! (1/9)

Right now, #Kay is a hurricane with 75 mph winds making landfall near the Baja Spur. It is expected to continue weakening into a tropical depression over the next couple days off the coast of SoCal. (2/9)

The main concern with Kay will be the influx of moisture into the region and associated potential for heavy rainfall. The official rainfall forecast from @NWSWPC calls for fairly widespread rainfall across the southwest over the weekend and into next week. (3/9)

Some of this rainfall will be quite welcome given the ongoing drought, though the rate of the rainfall could cause flooding concerns. This is highlighted by the Excessive Rainfall Outlook for Friday & Saturday shown below. (4/9)

These areas are covered by a Flash Flood Watch, so be aware of the flood risk through the weekend, especially across the Western Mojave and Sonoran Deserts and mountains of SoCal. Follow @NWSSanDiego, @NWSLosAngeles and @NWSPhoenix for more information in those areas. (5/9)

As #Kay moves north and weakens, heavy rain bands will push in from the south, with additional storms breaking out further north into southern Nevada. Here's a simulation of a possible radar evolution from the HRRR Model. (6/9)

How rare are tropical systems this far north in the eastern Pacific Waters? Pretty rare! Shown below are historical tropical paths that have come within 400 miles of Las Vegas. Only a few in the past century, most notably Hurricane Nora in 1997 and Hurricane Doreen in 1977. (7/9)

In fact, outer cirrus cloud cover is already visible over the #Vegas skies this afternoon ahead of the deeper #Kay moisture moving in! (8/9)

Chances for rain around the #Vegas Valley peak on Saturday, but will exist now through the middle of next week as rich moisture is pushed north into the region. Stay tuned this weekend and keep an eye to the sky! We certainly will be! #VegasWeather (9/9)