Nevada, 1997

Flash Flood and Hail in Nevada, August 8, 1997

August 8, 1997 · NWS VEF · 7 events in 1 county or zone

A brief episode of severe thunderstorms disrupted the afternoon in the Las Vegas Valley. Damaging winds downed power poles and heavy rain caused minor flash flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$30,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.

A brief episode of severe thunderstorms disrupted the afternoon in the Las Vegas Valley. Damaging winds downed power poles and heavy rain caused minor flash flooding. 11,500 homes lost electricity for about four hours and at least one home received minor flood damage. Also, the roof of one home caught fire from a lightning strike but was extinguished before major damage occurred.

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 37 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:46 UTC.

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Event by event

3 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Clark

When
August 8, 2:47 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Henderson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.030, -114.980

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 8, 3:05 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Las Vegas
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
36.170, -115.150

Flash Flood, Clark

When
August 8, 3:10 PM PST to 4:00 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Henderson
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
36.215, -115.014 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Clark

When
August 8, 3:15 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Henderson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.030, -114.980

Lightning, Clark

When
August 8, 3:20 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Las Vegas
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
36.215, -115.014 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 8, 3:39 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Nellis Afb
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
36.250, -115.030

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 8, 4:57 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Las Vegas
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
36.170, -115.150

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nevada in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5619627, 5619633, 5619628, 5619629, 5619632, 5619630, 5619631.