The first monsoon moisture push of the season fueled isolated thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
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 fueled isolated thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
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 7, 12:30 PM PST, 1 hour 3 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 130 PM PDT Sat Jul 7 2018 .SYNOPSIS...Hot temperatures are expected through the weekend along with near daily chances for thunderstorm activity. The highest chances for storms will be across the high terrain of Mohave, Clark, and San Bernardino counties. Moisture will continue to slowly seep north and west through next week bringing daily chances for showers and storms. && .SHORT TERM...Through Sunday Night. Widespread debris clouds this morning have limited afternoon convection across much of the region today. The exception has been on the edges of the cloud shield where a few storms have formed over the Spring Mountains and far Southeastern Inyo county. Weak shear and limited buoyancy has kept the storms fairly weak overall, though some heavy rain of up to a half an inch has been observed. A few additional storms may form later this afternoon, especially in places which saw full sunshine today, but overall, relatively low thunderstorm coverage is expected. Another day of activity is expected Sunday, which could prove more robust than today given a sunnier start to the day expected with similar atmospheric moisture content. Early runs of the HRRRx suggest activity first developing across Mohave county and pushing west in the afternoon and evening, with additional storms possible near the Colorado river and Southern Nevada. This scenario seems reasonable but we will continue to monitor trends. Aside from the moisture, very hot temperatures will continue across our western zones with temperatures above 100F on most of the valley floors, with Death Valley rising up above 120F. Slightly cooler conditions are expected further east thanks to increased moisture and thunderstorm activity. .LONG TERM...Monday through Friday. Looking out further, there are two items of note. One is a potential increase in moisture (potentially PW values of 1.50-2.00 inches) from late Monday through late in the week. And two, an easterly wave that could help to generate and organize convection in the late Monday-Tuesday timeframe. Confidence in any details beyond Monday is low (typical for the monsoon season). However, precipitation chances were generally increased for all time periods due to good agreement in sustained moderate to high-grade monsoon moisture. && .AVIATION...For McCarran...Widespread clouds this morning has limited thunderstorm activity this afternoon. As such, I dont expect much thunderstorm activity in the valley, though storms may impact regional approach corridors at times. Light south winds of 5-10 knots are likely though late tonight, though outflow from the west or northwest is possible later this afternoon with gusts to 20 knots possible if it materializes. Diurnal winds expected tomorrow with Thunderstorms possible again during the late afternoon or evening. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...Scattered showers and thunderstorms possible this evening mainly across the higher terrain of Inyo county and Southern Nevada. A few storms may also form this afternoon near KDAG and KNXP with brief downpours and gusty winds. Generally diurnal winds are expected through the period with additional thunderstorm activity likely tomorrow afternoon, particularly east of a KDAG to KTPH line. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Monsoon season is underway across the region. There will be chances for thunderstorms each day through the next week. Spotter activation may be needed at times. Regardless of activation, spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && SHORT TERM/AVIATION...Outler LONG TERM...Wolcott For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The Edwards AFB radar (KEYX), 74 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:34 UTC.
3 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
The intersection of National Trails Highway and the road to the Daggett airport was flooded.
Highway 62 was flooded west of Joshua Tree.
This gust occurred at the Barstow-Daggett Airport (KDAG).
Nipton Road was flooded near I-15.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in California in 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in California, July 2018
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: 773549, 773552, 773555, 773556.