Clouds loom over Lake Mead

The rain came in and is on its way back out, but the winds stayed behind for the final day of the EverStart Western event

HENDERSON, Nev. – The Lake Mead area has experienced an assortment of weather conditions during this week’s EverStart Series Western Division event, including hot sun, calm winds, gusty winds, cooler temperatures, dust, and now rain. The desert was drenched with rain overnight, and while the rain clouds are now making their way out of the area, the remaining clouds seemed to be parked right on top of the takeoff point at Callville Bay Marina.

The surrounding skies were lit up with a brilliant sunshine, and the forecast calls for another sunny day although with much cooler temperatures. Today’s air temperatures should get no warmer than the mid-60s, about 20 degrees cooler than temperatures in the opening round and about 10 degrees cooler than yesterday.

The biggest factor this week as far as weather has undoubtedly been the wind, which some anglers sit and wait for while others sit and hope it goes away. Today’s winds could reach speeds of 35 mph with a stray thunderstorm possible.

No doubt the final 10 pros and co-anglers in today’s competition don’t want to worry about yet another weather change in the mix, with top prizes worth as much as $60,000 on the pro side and $35,000 on the co-angler side on the line.

Gabe Bolivar of Ramona, Calif., leads the Pro Division by more than 2 pounds, while Gary Key of Phoenix leads the co-anglers by only 2 ounces. The winners will be determined at today’s weigh-in based on their two-day accumulated weight.

The final weigh-in will begin at 4 p.m. at the Wal-Mart store located at 300 E. Lake Mead Drive in Henderson.

Saturday’s conditions:

Sunrise: 6:14 a.m.

Temperature at takeoff: 46 degrees

Expected high temperature: 66 degrees

Wind: from the northwest at 30 mph

Maximum humidity: 24 percent

Day’s outlook: a mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds