Did you know Harry Reid International is the official meteorological observation point for the National Weather Service in Las Vegas? In fact, weather records from the airport go back more than 75 years.

The airfield at LAS is home to an array of climate sensors that send information to the local weather service office located just south of the airport. Additional data is collected from sensors at the NWS facility.

Weather predictions are crucial to a safe and efficient travel experience. Meteorologists provide forecasts to the airport four times a day; even more frequently during severe weather events.

And while casual observers might not think the weather in Las Vegas has an impact on aviation, hot temperatures and high winds – both common in the valley – can pose challenges to aircraft operations.

In the heat of the summer, the atmosphere is less dense, meaning heavy aircraft need more room to take off. Wind conditions can determine which runways are used and in which direction aircraft will travel. If meteorologists see the wind speed or direction is going to change, they’ll alert the FAA tower at LAS so controllers can choose the appropriate configuration.

In addition to communicating about weather conditions, meteorologists also touch base with the tower for their twice-daily weather balloon launches. These are conducted each morning and afternoon at the NWS office to gather varied atmospheric samples. The balloons can travel over ten miles into the sky, so the weather service must coordinate with air traffic control before launching.

Watch the video below to see the weather service in action!