Nevada, 2018

Dust Storm and Hail in Nevada, August 9 to 11, 2018

August 9 to 11, 2018 · NWS VEF · 8 events in 3 counties and zones

Hurricane John triggered a Gulf Surge, bringing scattered thunderstorms to the Mojave Desert, some of which produced severe weather and/or flash flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$170,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
8

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.

Hurricane John triggered a Gulf Surge, bringing scattered thunderstorms to the Mojave Desert, some of which produced severe weather and/or flash flooding.

What forecasters said that day

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 Aug 9, 1:23 PM PST, 6 hours 57 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 9, 1:23 PM PST, 6 hours 57 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
223 PM PDT Thu Aug 9 2018

.SYNOPSIS...Thunderstorm activity will increase through Saturday
in areas roughly along and east of a line from Barstow to Rachel,
then better thunderstorm chances will shift to areas north and east
of Las Vegas for Sunday through early next week. Temperatures will
be a few degrees above normal.
&&

.SHORT TERM...through Saturday night. As of 2 PM, weak storms were
popping over higher terrain near and east of a line from the Mojave
Preserve to the NNSS. However, as advertised by previous shifts, the
main concern is an anticipated complex of storms rolling west or
southwest through southern Mohave County later this evening. High
resolution models are still pointing to this scenario, so left the
highest PoPs in that area overnight. If/When this complex of storms
materializes, it will also result in strong winds along its path.
Expect the best thunderstorm chances to remain roughly along and
east of a line from Barstow to Rachel through Saturday, favoring the
afternoons and evenings. The Excessive Heat Warning remains in
effect west of Las Vegas this evening. For tomorrow, there are still
spots of Heat Risk level 3 and even 4 in the same area, but coverage
decreases enough that the warning should not need to be extended
into Friday.

.LONG TERM...Sunday through Thursday.

Per the latest forecast model runs, high pressure will still be over
the area Sunday however, troughing over the Pac NW has more of an
influence than was forecast 24 hours ago. It now slightly weakens
the ridge and as a result, drops temperatures a couple of degrees.
The high remains over the area Monday before sliding east of the
area Tuesday and Wednesday. Moisture will remain in place through
the middle of next week but primarily over the southeastern zones
where the best moisture and instability is forecast. 00Z Models came
in drier and more stable than previous runs especially early in the
week across the Sierra and south central Nevada zones. Discounted
this for now and kept a chance of thunderstorms in these areas. Mid
to late in the week, models bring an easterly wave to the area with
increasing moisture and instability across SE San Bernardino,
southern Clark and central and southern Mohave counties. Overall,
slightly above to near normal temperatures are expected through the
period.
&&

.AVIATION...For McCarran...Light and variable winds from this
morning will become predominantly southeast this afternoon. Another
afternoon of potential isolated thunderstorms will be possible but
confidence is low on any direct impacts to the LAS terminal. Handled
with VCTS but amendments may be needed if outflows evolve and look
to impact the terminal. Another larger complex is expected this
evening but at this time should stay well south of LAS.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and southeast
California...The main concern will be a well advertised thunderstorm
complex that a number of models are showing forming in north-central
Arizona and progressing southwestward into the vicinity of KEED and
possibly farther north to KIFP. Included VCTS for these sites this
evening with the most significant impact being a wind shift to the
east or northeast and gust potential to 25 kts.
&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report
any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating
procedures.
&&

SHORT TERM...Morgan
LONG TERM...Salmen
AVIATION...Boucher

For more forecast information...see us on our webpage:

http://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter

In the hours before

Local storm report, Aug 9, 6:53 PM PST, 1 hour 27 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
753 PM PDT THU AUG 9 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0725 PM     DUST STORM       5 SE NEW KINGMAN-BUTLER 35.20N 113.97W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED VISIBILITY AT AROUND 100
            FEET.

0705 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 ENE PEACH SPRINGS     35.55N 113.34W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

            ADOT REPORTED FLOODING WITH DEBRIS ON ROUTE
            66 AT MILE MARKER 109.

0703 PM     DUST STORM       5 NE DOLAN SPRINGS      35.64N 114.22W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            VISIBILITY IS DOWN TO A QUARTER OF A MILE
            AND DECREASING.

0700 PM     DUST STORM       CHLORIDE                35.41N 114.20W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY.

0700 PM     DUST STORM       9 N NEW KINGMAN-BUTLER  35.39N 114.02W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            SPOTTER REPORTED VISIBILITY LESS THAN A
            QUARTER OF A MILE. GUSTS ESTIMATED 40 TO 50
            MPH.

0630 PM     DUST STORM       19 NW VALENTINE         35.56N 113.91W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   PUBLIC

            ZERO VISIBILITY ON ALL CAMERAS AT HUALAPAI
            VALLEY OBSERVATORY.

&&
Local storm report, Aug 9, 7:39 PM PST, 41 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS NV
839 PM PDT THU AUG 9 2018

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0751 PM     DUST STORM       11 NNW DOLAN SPRINGS    35.74N 114.35W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   PARK/FOREST SRVC

            NPS EMPLOYEE REPORTED VISIBILITY A QUARTER
            OF A MILE OR LESS IN WHITE HILLS.

0750 PM     DUST STORM       6 WSW DOLAN SPRINGS     35.56N 114.37W
08/09/2018                   MOHAVE             AZ   PUBLIC

            PUBLIC REPORT RECEIVED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA OF
            VISIBILITY LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE ON
            US 93 NEAR DOLAN SPRINGS.

&&

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 41 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:20 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, 1 dust storm, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 9, 8:20 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 5.6 mi SSW of Callville Bay
Measured
50 kt (58 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Buoy
Coordinates
36.053, -114.763

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When
August 10, 8:31 PM PST to 8:50 PM PST
Where
Lincoln County, 1.4 mi NW of Rachel
Measured
53 kt (61 mph) measured gust
Reported by
Mesonet
Coordinates
37.643, -115.739

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 11, 6:28 PM PST to 7:00 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 0.9 mi NE of Laughlin to 2.25 mi WSW of Laughlin
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.171, -114.571

Thunderstorm winds blew out several windows at the Riverside Hotel and also downed a few trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
August 11, 7:28 PM PST to 8:29 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 0.81 mi W of (Lsv)nellis Afb Las to 0.68 mi WSW of Las Vegas Hndrsn Sky
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$150,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.249, -115.044

Visibility dropped below a quarter mile in dust storm conditions. About 20 trees were blown down, at least one of which landed on a house. At least four power poles were blown down, two carport structures were damaged, shingles were blown off a house, there was damage to the exterior of a casino hotel, and an airplane at Henderson Executive Airport was tipped onto its nose.

Hail, Clark

When
August 11, 7:50 PM PST to 7:53 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 1.82 mi SW of Garnet
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.381, -114.893

Hail, Clark

When
August 11, 7:56 PM PST to 8:00 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 2.21 mi E of Las Vegas Hndrsn Sky
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.979, -115.091

Dust Storm, Western Clark/Southern Nye

When
August 11, 8:30 PM PST to 9:00 PM PST
Where
Western Clark/Southern Nye forecast zone
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
37.129, -115.743 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Dust storm conditions reduced visibility to zero in Pahrump.

Lightning, Clark

When
August 11, 8:35 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 1.9 mi WNW of Las Vegas N Air Term
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.225, -115.234

Lightning struck a transformer and started a backyard fire.

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Dust Storm
Blowing dust that reduced visibility to a quarter mile or less.
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 2018Every state in 2018This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, August 2018

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: 779130, 779131, 779132, 779133, 779134, 779135, 779139, 779140.