A push of monsoon moisture fueled scattered thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced flash flooding and severe weather.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS VEF wrote it up.
A push of monsoon moisture fueled scattered thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced flash flooding and severe weather.
The local office's own words before the first event, 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 the first event at Jul 12, 9:23 AM PST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV 1023 AM PDT FRI JUL 12 2013 .SYNOPSIS...MONSOON MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION TODAY BRINGING CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ONCE AGAIN. FLASH FLOODING WILL BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN WITH THESE STORMS...ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WITH RECENT WILDFIRES. THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL SLOWLY DECREASE OVER THE WEEKEND...WITH DRIER AND WARMER CONDITIONS EXPECTED BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .UPDATE...WEAK FEATURE OVER SRN CA AND NRN BAJA MEXICO HELPING ENHANCE AN AREA OF LGT SHOWERS ACROSS ERN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY. HAVE ONLY SEE A FEW HUNDREDTHS COME OUT OF THESE SHOWERS. OTHERWISE WILL BE WATCHING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN AND IN AREAS OF DEFERENTIAL HEATING IN RELATIVELY CLEAR AREAS. PWATS STANDING ABOUT +2SD OR 180 PCT OF NORMAL. DECIDE TO EXPAND THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH TO INCLUDE MOST OF CLARK COUNTY AS WELL AS THE LAKE MEAD NATL REC AREA. UPDATED PACKAGE OUT WITH WATCH HEADLINE AS WELL AS INCREASING POPS/HEAVY RAIN. && .AVIATION...FOR MCCARRAN...ISOLATED SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS PARTS OF THE LAS VEGAS VALLEY BY 19Z...BECOMING SCTD AFTER DURING THE AFTERNOON. CIGS OF 8-10K FEET ARE EXPECTED FOR MUCH OF THE DAY...WITH LOWER CIGS POSSIBLE NEAR SHOWER ACTIVITY. OUTSIDE OF SHOWER ACTIVITY WINDS WILL LIKELY BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE ...THEN FAVORING A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION. GUSTY WINDS COULD DEVELOP NEAR SHOWER ACTIVITY. SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD BEGIN TO TAPER OFF AFTER SUNSET...WITH DRIER CONDITIONS EXPECTED AFTER 06Z SAT. FOR THE REST OF SOUTHERN NEVADA...NORTHWEST ARIZONA...AND SOUTHEAST CALIFORNIA...MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES ARE EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE AREA TODAY WITH CIGS AROUND 8-10K FEET. SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS EXPECTED...MAINLY EAST OF A TWENTYNINE PALMS-PAHRUMP-RACHEL LINE. LIGHT WINDS FAVORING TYPICAL DIURNAL DIRECTIONS ARE EXPECTED OUTSIDE OF SHOWER ACTIVITY...WITH GUSTY WINDS POSSIBLE NEAR SHOWERS. CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO DRY OUT TONIGHT...THOUGH ISOLATED SHOWER/THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL CONTINUE PRIMARILY EAST OF LAS VEGAS EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH THE WEEKEND. && .PREV DISCUSSION... 239 AM PDT FRI JUL 12 2013 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY...THE REGION WILL BE CAUGHT BETWEEN A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND A HIGH PRESSURE CIRCULATION OVER NEW MEXICO TODAY AND SATURDAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN RELATIVELY DRY CONDITIONS WEST OF A RACHEL-PAHRUMP- TWENTYNINE PALMS LINE AND MOIST SOUTHEAST FLOW TO THE EAST. THE PRIMARY CONCERN ONCE AGAIN TODAY IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FLASH FLOODING IN AREAS UNDER THIS SOUTHEAST FLOW. ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WHICH HAVE RECENTLY SEEN WILDFIRE ACTIVITY. CURRENT SATELLITE DERIVED PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES ARE 160-200 PERCENT OF NORMAL...WITH VALUES OF 1.0-1.7 INCHES IN THE FORECAST THROUGH THE DAY. STORM MOTION WILL BE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT 10-15 KTS...WITH THE SLOWEST MOTION EXPECTED OVER THE WESTERN FRINGE OF THE MOISTURE...INCLUDING ACROSS THE SPRING MOUNTAINS. AS FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR ORGANIZED STORMS...0-6KM SHEAR VALUES OF 25-40KTS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF MOHAVE AND LINCOLN COUNTIES...WHICH COULD FAVOR A FEW ORGANIZED CELLS. THE BIGGEST QUESTION WILL BE HOW MUCH INSTABILITY WILL DEVELOP. LATEST TRENDS AND GUIDANCE SUGGEST THAT AT LEAST THE EASTERN HALF OF MOHAVE COUNTY COULD SEE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF SUN TODAY. THE NAM HAS PICKED UP ON THIS AND IS PRODUCING 500-1000 J/KG OF CAPE BY THIS AFTERNOON. BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE FACT THAT THE BEST AREA OF MOISTURE LOOKS TO RESIDE OVER CLARK COUNTY...HAVE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE CURRENT FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY. THE NEXT SHIFT WILL NEED TO MONITOR CLOUD COVER AS AREAS THAT RECEIVE SIGNIFICANT SUNLIGHT DURING PEAK HEATING COULD DESTABILIZE RAPIDLY. A LACK OF SYNOPTIC SCALE FORCING AND DECREASING MOISTURE AFTER 06Z SATURDAY SHOULD ALLOW CONVECTION TO TAPER OFF FAIRLY QUICKLY DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. SLOW DRYING WILL CONTINUE SATURDAY...HOWEVER ENOUGH MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY WILL BE AROUND TO KEEP A SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE OF SHOWERS IN THE FORECAST ACROSS MUCH OF LINCOLN...CLARK...AND MOHAVE COUNTIES SATURDAY...ESPECIALLY IN THE HIGH TERRAIN. .LONG TERM...SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY...DRYING IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE THROUGH MONDAY AS THE SOUTHEAST RIDGE IS SUPPRESSED FURTHER TO THE EAST AND A WEAK TROUGH REMAINS OFF THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST. HOWEVER ENOUGH INSTABILITY/MOISTURE TO LINGER OVER MAINLY MOHAVE COUNTY ARIZONA TO CONTINUE MENTION OF ISOLATED AFTERNOON/EVENING THUNDERSTORMS FOR THIS AREA. BY TUESDAY AND INTO THURSDAY OVERALL PATTERN OVER THE AREA WILL BE A TROUGH OFF THE WEST COAST AND A RIDGE CENTERED SOMEWHERE TO THE SOUTHEAST/EAST OF THE CWA. THIS WILL RESULT IN A FAIRLY NON-DESCRIPTIVE PATTERN OF WEAK SOUTHERLY FLOW OVER THE CWA RESULTING IN ISOLATED MAINLY AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE AREA FROM TUESDAY ON. THERE IS STILL A CHANCE THAT INCREASED MOISTURE WILL BE SEEN BY THURSDAY...BUT THE THE CURRENT MODEL RUNS ARE NOT INDICATING A MAJOR PUSH HEADING OUR DIRECTION. TEMPERATURES WILL GENERALLY BE NEAR NORMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD. && .FIRE WEATHER...SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN TODAY EAST OF A LINE FROM TWENTYNINE PALMS CA-PAHRUMP NV-RACHEL NV. THE FLASH FLOOD THREAT WILL BE PARTICULARLY HIGH NEAR BURN SCARS. THUNDERSTORMS...PRIMARILY WET...WILL CONTINUE MAINLY ACROSS THE EASTERN ZONES THROUGH SUNDAY ALTHOUGH THE MOISTURE CONTENT WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. && .VEF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NV...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR NVZ016-019>022. AZ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR AZZ001-003-036. CA...NONE. && UPDATE...PIERCE PREV DISCUSSION...WOLCOTT/JENSEN FOR MORE FORECAST INFORMATION...SEE US ON OUR WEBPAGE: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/LASVEGAS OR FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV 509 AM PDT FRI JUL 12 2013 AZZ002-036-CAZ519>527-NVZ014>018-020>022-130315- LOWER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY-LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA- EASTERN SIERRA SLOPES-OWENS VALLEY-WHITE MOUNTAINS OF INYO COUNTY- DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK-WESTERN MOJAVE DESERT- EASTERN MOJAVE DESERT-MORONGO BASIN-CADIZ BASIN- SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY-UPPER COLORADO RIVER VALLEY- ESMERALDA AND CENTRAL NYE COUNTY-LINCOLN COUNTY- NORTHEAST CLARK COUNTY-WESTERN CLARK AND SOUTHERN NYE COUNTY- SHEEP RANGE-LAS VEGAS VALLEY-SOUTHERN CLARK COUNTY- 509 AM PDT FRI JUL 12 2013 /509 AM MST FRI JUL 12 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA...CALIFORNIA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EXPECTED TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE ALONG WITH GUSTY WINDS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY DRYING WILL TAKE PLACE FROM THE WEST ON SATURDAY AND CONTINUE INTO MONDAY. HOWEVER ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE...ESPECIALLY OVER THE EASTERN ZONES. INCREASING MOISTURE MAY ONCE AGAIN BE SEEN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY FOR AN INCREASING CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. AZZ001-003-NVZ019-130315- NORTHWEST PLATEAU-NORTHWEST DESERTS-SPRING MOUNTAINS- 509 AM PDT FRI JUL 12 2013 /509 AM MST FRI JUL 12 2013/ THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST ARIZONA AND SOUTHERN NEVADA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS THE AREA TODAY AND TONIGHT WITH POSSIBLE HEAVY RAINFALL. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH 11 PM THIS EVENING. THE MAIN CONCERN WILL BE RECENT BURN SCARS...ESPECIALLY IN THE SPRING MOUNTAINS AND HUALAPAI MOUNTAIN AREAS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY DRYING WILL BE SEEN SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY...HOWEVER ENOUGH MOISTURE WILL REMAIN OVER THE AREA TO KEEP ISOLATED AFTERNOON AND EVENING THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST. AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE MAY BE SEEN WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY LEADING TO AN INCREASE IN THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVITY MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON...DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF HEAVY RAINFALL. SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 7 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 19:08 UTC.
2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Highway 165 was washed out just past the town of Nelson, with 14 cars stranded beyond the washout. The debris flow down the canyon was 100 feet wide and six feet deep. A public bathroom structure was filled halfway with mud.
Major flash flooding affected the Carpenter One burn scar. Four feet of water flowed down Harris Springs Canyon, water and debris flowed over and closed Kyle Canyon Road, and mud and debris eventually flowed 20 miles down the mountain onto a few streets in the northwest corner of the Las Vegas Valley.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, July 2013
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: 459748, 459749.