Showers and thunderstorms likely in Las Vegas Wednesday night and Thursday

A slow-moving storm system is bringing a midweek chance of rain to Las Vegas, followed by a cooler, dry weekend, according to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.

Wednesday, Oct. 21, starts mostly sunny with a high near 81. Showers and thunderstorms become possible from the afternoon, with a 30% chance of rain during the day.

The best chance comes Wednesday night and Thursday, Oct. 22, when the forecast calls for showers and thunderstorms with an 80% chance of rain. Thursday's high is near 73, with south winds gusting to about 23 mph. Forecasters say gusty south-southwest winds of 20 to 40 mph will come with the system, with impacts mostly on local lakes, so boaters at Lake Mead and Lake Mohave should keep an eye on conditions.

The Weather Service notes that the Las Vegas area could be caught in a drier slot between the main bands of rain, so totals in the valley may stay light even as outlying areas get heavier rain and mountain snow above about 9,000 feet.

Skies clear by Friday, Oct. 23, with sunny weather and a high near 72. Saturday and Sunday stay sunny with highs of 72 and 73 and overnight lows in the mid-50s, slightly below normal for late October. Pack a light jacket for evenings and an umbrella for Thursday.

Forecasts can change; check the latest National Weather Service forecast before outdoor plans.