Nevada, 1998

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Nevada, August 14, 1998

August 14, 1998 · NWS VEF · 5 events in 1 county or zone

An intense cluster of thunderstorms produced high winds, locally heavy rain and an impressive lightning display as they rolled through the Las Vegas Valley. Several roofs were blown off mobile homes on east Craig Road in North Las Vegas and gusts up to 72 mph were measured at Apex.

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
$55,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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.

An intense cluster of thunderstorms produced high winds, locally heavy rain and an impressive lightning display as they rolled through the Las Vegas Valley. Several roofs were blown off mobile homes on east Craig Road in North Las Vegas and gusts up to 72 mph were measured at Apex. Firefighters had to rescue at least five motorists stranded by flash flood waters in the area of Cheyenne Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. Lightning strikes damaged several transformers, temporarily cutting electricity to about 7,200 people. Lightning also struck a home in the northwest area of Summerlin causing minor damage.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 14, 7:00 PM PST
Where
Clark County, North Las Vegas
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.200, -115.120

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 14, 7:05 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Las Vegas
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.170, -115.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 14, 7:30 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Apex
Measured
63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
36.330, -114.920

Flash Flood, Clark

When
August 14, 7:45 PM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where
Clark County, North Las Vegas
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
36.215, -115.014 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning, Clark

When
August 14, 8:15 PM PST
Where
Clark County, Las Vegas
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates
36.215, -115.014 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 1998

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: 5665077, 5665078, 5665079, 5665080, 5665081.