Alert archive / Nevada / Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in 2026

Severe Thunderstorm Warning 38, NWS Las Vegas, NV

August 13, 2026Clark County, Nevada; Mohave County, Arizona

NWS Las Vegas, NV issued this severe thunderstorm warning at Aug 13, 2026, 2:04 PM PDT for Clark County, Nevada; Mohave County, Arizona. It was in force for 41 min. No storm report in the archive falls inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued: Aug 13, 2026, 2:04 PM PDT (21:04 UTC)
Expired: Aug 13, 2026, 2:45 PM PDT
In force: 41 min
Issued by: NWS Las Vegas, NV
Area: Storm-based polygon
Hail: 1.0 in
Wind: 50.0 mph

Counties Mohave County, AZ, Clark County, NV

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 21:06 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Las Vegas, NV (KVEF), launched 12:00Z, 9.1 hours before the alert went out and 113 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 307 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -191 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 1708 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 26 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 48 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 74 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.0
Supercell composite: 0.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this severe thunderstorm warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Las Vegas, NV wrote its last area forecast discussion before this severe thunderstorm warning went out at Aug 13, 12:15 PM PDT, 1 hour 49 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

* Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, bringing localized flooding, gusty winds, and hail. * Additional thunderstorms develop tomorrow afternoon, followed by a drying trend this weekend and next week. * Temperatures cool through tomorrow, then slightly rebound over the weekend and into next week.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 13, 12:15 PM PDT, 1 hour 49 minutes before

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
1215 PM PDT Thu Aug 13 2026

.KEY MESSAGES...

* Thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and evening, bringing
  localized flooding, gusty winds, and hail.

* Additional thunderstorms develop tomorrow afternoon, followed by a
  drying trend this weekend and next week.

* Temperatures cool through tomorrow, then slightly rebound over
  the weekend and into next week.

&&

.DISCUSSION...Through Wednesday.

The current setup aloft involving a trough off the Pacific Coast and
high pressure over the southeastern United States allows for
favorable moisture advection into the forecast area. Dew points
range from the upper 50s to the 60s across much of the Mojave
Desert, and reach into the 70s along the Colorado River.
Thunderstorms have already started to develop over the Sierra and
high terrain in southern Nevada including the Spring Mountains and
McCullough Range. A faster storm motion may help subdue the flooding
risk for much of the Mojave Desert, but increased storm coverage
over the southern Great Basin and northwestern Arizona brings
elevated flooding concerns to those areas. This morning's 18Z
sounding shows cooler air aloft, bringing surface based CAPE up to
1600 J/kg with 41 knots of cloud layer shear. Gusty winds and
hail are within the realm of possibility for the stronger storms,
especially in northwestern Arizona and southern Nevada this
afternoon. Strong winds aloft may prove to be a limiting factor,
pushing storms off high terrain before strong vertical updrafts
can form. Convection should slow down after sunset.

The ridge starts to push west tomorrow, which will begin to limit
moisture availability for storms. However, the presence of the mid
level trough off the California coast will help maintain instability
needed for storm formation. Convection will begin in the afternoon
and last into the evening, albeit with less coverage compared to
today. The greatest potential for flash flooding will be in Lincoln
County and northern Mohave County, where storm coverage is the
greatest. Dry conditions return this weekend and next week as the
ridge grows west and moisture is shut off.

The building ridge will also bring an increase in temperatures
through the middle of next week. High temperatures rise to near
normal values by Monday, which means highs in the mid 100s for Las
Vegas. Moderate (Level 2 of 4) Heat Risk returns to valleys across
the Mojave Desert, with pockets of Major (Level 3 of 4) Heat Risk in
lower valleys of southern Mohave County.

&&

.AVIATION...For Harry Reid...For the 18Z Forecast Package...
Expecting south-southeast breezes to kick in this afternoon with
gusts 15-20 knots, but once thunderstorms begin to develop in the
vicinity, the wind forecast becomes low confidence. Models are keen
on pushing storms into the valley, with best chances between 20z and
00z, though activity may linger into the evening. Gusty outflow
winds are likely, with potential for heavy rain and reduced
visibility should a storm move over the airfield. Lowest cloud bases
between 8-10kft. Calmer conditions should resume by 06z (if not
earlier) and persist through the morning hours on Friday. Storm
chances return Friday afternoon.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...For the 18Z Forecast Package...Another round of
afternoon convection today, mainly across southern NV, northwestern
AZ, and Inyo County. Storms will likely produce strong outflow
winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Most of this activity
should wane after sunset, but may linger through the night across
the lower Colorado River Valley and Mohave County. Outside of
convective influences, expecting light breezes generally from the
south. Lowest cloud bases 8-12kft.

&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.

&&

DISCUSSION...Meltzer
AVIATION...Woods

For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:
https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 13, 8:59 AM PDT, 5 hours 5 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Corrected
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
859 AM PDT Thu Aug 13 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0215 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Cottonwood Cove         35.49N 114.69W
08/12/2026  M81 MPH          Clark              NV   Mesonet

            Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from
            Cottonwood Cove. Cottonwood Cove HADS sensor
            reports peak wind of 81 MPH.

&&

MW

Local storm report, Aug 13, 9:20 AM PDT, 4 hours 44 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
920 AM PDT Thu Aug 13 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1021 AM     Flash Flood      6 ENE New Kingman-Butle 35.30N 113.93W
08/12/2026                   Mohave             AZ   Public

            Corrects previous flash flood report from 6
            ENE New Kingman-Butler. Images and videos
            show flash flooding along Route 66 between
            Kingman Airport and Valle Vista. Time is
            estimated based on radar.

&&

ASG

Local storm report, Aug 13, 1:42 PM PDT, 22 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
142 PM PDT Thu Aug 13 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0340 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     4 SSE Yermo             34.85N 116.79W
08/11/2026  M89 MPH          San Bernardino     CA   ASOS

            KDAG gusted to 59 mph at 1540 PM, peak gust
            of 89 MPH at 1542 PM.

0342 PM     Flash Flood      3 NE Nebo Center        34.90N 116.93W
08/11/2026                   San Bernardino     CA   Public

            Social media photos show water flowing
            across Fort Irwin Rd at I-15 with cars stuck
            in water.

0600 PM     Flash Flood      8 WSW Mountain Pass     35.44N 115.67W
08/11/2026                   San Bernardino     CA   Public

            Images taken by Mojave National Park Service
            personnel show mud and debris covering Cima
            Rd just south of Interstate 15. Debris is
            estimated to be 1 to 2 feet deep. Time is
            estimated based on radar.

0610 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 S Amboy               34.47N 115.74W
08/11/2026                   San Bernardino     CA   Public

            Powerlines down over Amboy Road due to
            thunderstorm winds. Reported via social
            media. Time estimated by radar.

&&

Local storm report, Aug 13, 1:43 PM PDT, 21 minutes before

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
143 PM PDT Thu Aug 13 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0811 AM     Tstm Wnd Gst     5 E New Kingman-Butler  35.26N 113.94W
08/12/2026  M67 MPH          Mohave             AZ   ASOS

            Kingman Airport (KIGM) recorded 60+ mph
            gusts from 0811-0824.

1021 AM     Flash Flood      6 ENE New Kingman-Butle 35.30N 113.93W
08/12/2026                   Mohave             AZ   Public

            Corrects previous flash flood report from 6
            ENE New Kingman-Butler. Images and videos
            show flash flooding along Route 66 between
            Kingman Airport and Valle Vista. Time is
            estimated based on radar.

0203 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Nellis AFB              36.23N 115.03W
08/12/2026  M71 MPH          Clark              NV   ASOS

            KLSV reported a peak wind of 71 MPH.

0215 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     Cottonwood Cove         35.49N 114.69W
08/12/2026  M81 MPH          Clark              NV   Mesonet

            Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from
            Cottonwood Cove. Cottonwood Cove HADS sensor
            reports peak wind of 81 MPH.

0316 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     12 WNW Ludlow           34.77N 116.36W
08/12/2026                   San Bernardino     CA   Newspaper

            Semi-truck blown over due to thunderstorm
            winds.

0415 PM     Tstm Wnd Gst     1 N Desert Hills        34.57N 114.37W
08/12/2026  M61 MPH          Mohave             AZ   AWOS

            AWOS station KHII Lake Havasu City Airport.

0440 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 WSW Lake Havasu City  34.48N 114.36W
08/12/2026                   Mohave             AZ   Emergency Mngr

            Emergency management reports capsized boats
            and water rescues on Lake Havasu.

0804 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     6 WNW Needles           34.89N 114.70W
08/12/2026                   San Bernardino     CA   Law Enforcement

            Semi-truck blown off I-40 near MM 40 due to
            high winds.

&&

The office that day

Everything else NWS Las Vegas, NV issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Aug 13, 9:36 AM PDT	Flood Watch	VEF	Esmeralda, Lincoln, Nye	34 hr
Aug 13, 12:07 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	VEF	Clark	38 min
Aug 13, 12:43 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	VEF	Clark	47 min
Aug 13, 1:02 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Clark	21 min
Aug 13, 1:23 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	VEF	Clark	3 hr
Aug 13, 1:33 PM PDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	VEF	Clark	42 min
Aug 13, 1:36 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Esmeralda	3 hr
Aug 13, 1:48 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Clark	3 hr
Aug 13, 2:34 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Clark, Lincoln	38 min
Aug 13, 2:46 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Clark	3 hr
Aug 13, 3:12 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	VEF	Clark, Lincoln	3 hr
Aug 13, 3:40 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Lincoln	3 hr
Aug 13, 3:57 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Nye	2 hr
Aug 12, 8:04 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	VEF	Mohave	3 hr
Aug 12, 6:02 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	San Bernardino	3 hr
Aug 12, 6:39 PM PDT	Flash Flood Warning Considerable damage threat	VEF	San Bernardino	3 hr
Aug 13, 2:13 PM PDT	Areal Flood Advisory	VEF	Inyo	3 hr

Nearby

Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Nevada, 2026 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in Arizona, 2026 Every severe thunderstorm warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.