The first monsoon moisture push of the season led to isolated thunderstorms on the 27th through the 29th, followed by a widespread severe weather and flash flooding outbreak on the 30th. The episode continued into July 2nd.
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.
The first monsoon moisture push of the season led to isolated thunderstorms on the 27th through the 29th, followed by a widespread severe weather and flash flooding outbreak on the 30th. The episode continued into July 2nd.
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 Jun 28, 2:05 PM PST, 2 hours 55 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 305 PM PDT TUE JUN 28 2016 .SYNOPSIS...A moderate increase in moisture that has accompanied a disturbance moving toward central Nevada will linger over the region the rest of the week leading to isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms...especially over and near the mountains. && .SHORT TERM...tonight through Thursday night. Recent satellite loops showed a well defined circulation moving over central Nye county this afternoon which was associated with the inverted trough that has been responsible for bringing a modest increase in moisture...providing fuel for some thunderstorms. Surface dewpoints were generally in the upper to 30s to lower 40s across much of the region. The most active area so far has been central Mohave county up to the eastern fringes of Lake Mead where the highest pocket of moisture and instability has resided in the wake of the inverted trough. This area will continue to be a focus for convection this afternoon...but we will also need to watch the southern Sierra and Owens Valley as well. Isolated thunderstorms will also be possible over Clark and eastern San Bernardino counties before surface heating is lost this evening. Thunderstorms will have the ability to produce strong outflow this afternoon and evening which may initiate other convective cells. Convection will diminish overnight then Wednesday and Thursday look to be days with diurnal isolated to scattered thunderstorms driven primarily by surface heating. There is a slight drying trend over southeast California and southern Nevada Thursday but models continue to indicate a broad push of low level moisture up from northern Mexico and Arizona Thursday night into early Friday morning. .LONG TERM...Friday through Monday. Models consistent and in good agreement indicating a resurgence of low level moisture back west across the Colorado River into eastern San Bernardino, Clark and Lincoln Counties Friday and Saturday. On Friday, GFS surface computed CAPE and 0-1km most unstable CAPE shows values in excess of 1000 J/kg southeast of a line from Twentynine Palms-Bullhead City-Peach Springs. On Saturday, GFS shows values in excess of 1000 J/kg over central/southern Clark County and the Mojave Natl Preserve in northeast San Bernardino County. Increased POPs in the lower Colorado River Valley and southern Mohave County based on the amount of instability forecast Friday/Saturday. Beyond Saturday models differ in the overall pattern by the Fourth of July. Models flip-flopped solutions this morning with the ECMWF now showing more pronounced southwest flow associated with deeper trough over the Pacific Northwest/northern Great Basin. Meanwhile, the GFS now keeps a 594 DM H5 height contour centered over Arizona. Like last night outcome looks similar with both models spreading a drier more stable air mass over the region. The ECMWF would be the driest solution with guidance suggesting surface dewpoints falling back into the teen and 20s for Las Vegas on the 4th while the GFS shows 20s and 30s. If the ECMWF pans out expect stronger southwest wind gusts for revelers to contend with on the Forth of July. Influx of moisture/cloud cover should have some affect on temperatures Friday/Saturday. Once drier air spreads in temperatures should warm to above average Sunday and Monday. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Low confidence wind forecast this evening due to the likelihood of outflow boundaries moving through the valley. Aside from that variable, anticipate winds favoring a southerly direction this evening. Outflow driven winds may again (similar to yesterday) result in a period of 15-20 knot wind speeds with gusts to 30 knots. Thunderstorms will be possible this evening but are expected to stay more over the mountainous terrain, with only a very slight chance at the terminal itself. For the rest of southern Nevada...northwest Arizona...and southeast California...Widely scattered showers and thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon and evening especially across the higher terrain of Mohave, Clark, and Lincoln counties. Winds are expected to be mainly light and favoring diurnal trends, however, outflow boundaries may bring periods of gusty winds with gusts of 35 knots or more possible, especially near thunderstorm activity. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather according to standard operating procedures. && Short Term...Adair Long Term...Pierce Aviation...Outler For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 35 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:59 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind, 5 flash flood, 3 hail, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds destroyed an outdoor gazebo.
Thunderstorm winds destroyed one palm tree, damaged two others, and threw a glass table into a pool.
A debris flow covered Highway 159 near Bonnie Springs.
One to two inch hail fell in a swath across the Las Vegas Valley. Numerous vehicles were damaged.
Several intersections were inundated with fast flowing water and debris, and eight swift water rescues occurred. Two people were killed (one direct and one indirect), and one person was injured.
Lightning set fire to a house.
Thunderstorm winds blew down a carport, blew down a large mesquite tree which landed on a house, destroyed a fireworks stand, and blew an awning down onto several vehicles.
Highway 93 was closed due to flooding.
Roofing material was torn from a condo 2 miles NNE of Boulder City, and a 59 mph gust was measured at Callville Bay.
Twelve to 18 inches of water flowed over Highway 161.
Highway 160 was closed due to flooding.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Clark | 2016-06-30 | 55 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
| Flash Flood, Clark | 2016-06-30 | 29 | Female | Outside/Open Areas | Indirect |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, June 2016
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: 643039, 643040, 644974, 644975, 644976, 644977, 644978, 644980, 644982, 644984, 644986, 644989, 644993, 644994.