Nevada, 2018

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Nevada, July 9, 2018

July 9, 2018 · NWS VEF · 5 events in 1 county or zone

The first monsoon moisture push of the season fueled isolated thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$63,000
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.

The first monsoon moisture push of the season fueled isolated thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and 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 Jul 9, 1:14 PM PST, 1 hour 46 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jul 9, 1:14 PM PST, 1 hour 46 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Las Vegas NV
214 PM PDT Mon Jul 9 2018

.SYNOPSIS...An active monsoon pattern will continue through the
next week with daily thunderstorm chances across most of the region.
A disturbance will result in enhanced chances for thunderstorms
that could produce sudden damaging wind gusts (mainly along and SE
of the I-15 corridor) late this afternoon through the evening.
Temperatures will cool Tuesday and Wednesday then begin to increase
late this week.
&&

DISCUSSION...Convection starting to fire along the higher terrain of
Clark, Lincoln and the Mogollon Rim of central and eastern Arizona.
Inverted trough over eastern Arizona will be the trigger to a
potentially active late afternoon and evening across Mohave County,
Colorado River, as well as eastern Clark and San Bernardino Counties.
Jet-let on the northwest flack of the inverted trough will be cutting
across Mohave County late this afternoon with area of 40 kt 0-6km
Bulk Shear. As the storms come off the higher terrain they will be
moving into region of DCAPE in excess of 1000 J/kg which is a
favorable environment for damaging wind potential. The Flash Flood
Threat looks to more isolated due to expected forward motion of
storms along fast moving cold pools. On Tuesday and Wednesday,
inverted trough will be slowly moving westward across
southern/central California. Tomorrow's forecast is predicated on
just how active this evening gets. The atmosphere at least south and
east of Las Vegas could be worked over well enough that Tuesday
could be less active. However, further west ahead of the inverted
trough Inyo County and western San Bernardino Counties. Beyond
Wednesday, moisture looks to linger across the region for continue
diurnal cycle of afternoon/evening convection.
&&

.AVIATION...For McCarran...Focus of the forecast will be
this evening with strong outflow wind potential from the east
impacting the terminal. Storms over Arizona/southwest Utah will
continue to propagate into the lower deserts late this
afternoon/evening. Strong outflow winds from the storms look to
arrive at the terminal between 01z and 03z this evening. This looks
to be the strongest potential for winds with gusts possibly in
excess of 40 kts. There may be a potential of a weaker second push
of winds more from a southerly direction between 05z and 08z. There
is moderate confidence in the event occurring with lower confidence
in the second push of wind this evening. Thunderstorm activity
should then decrease for the second half of the night into Tuesday
morning before re-firing Tuesday afternoon.

For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast
California...Expecting widespread thunderstorm activity this evening
and overnight across Mohave County into southern Nevada and
California. With these strong thunderstorms, gusty outflow winds
over 40 knots are possible, especially in Mohave County through the
Colorado River Valley. Scattered thunderstorms should linger through
much of the night before dissipating early Tuesday morning. Storms
are expected to redevelop across the entire region Tuesday afternoon
and evening.
&&

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTER ACTIVATION REQUESTED FOR
MOHAVE COUNTY THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. Spotter activation may
also be needed for Clark and San Bernardino counties late this
afternoon through tonight. Thunderstorms are expected to develop
across Arizona late today that could produce widespread damaging
wind gusts that may move west across the Colorado River Valley.
There will be chances for thunderstorms each day through the next
week. Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or
impacts according to standard operating procedures.
&&

Pierce

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

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

The radar

The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 82 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:01 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 flash flood, 1 heavy rain, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Clark

When
July 9, 3:00 PM PST to 6:00 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 4.44 mi WSW of Valley of Fire to 3.84 mi N of Overton
Cause
Heavy Rain
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
36.402, -114.592

Several roads in Valley of Fire State Park were closed by flash flooding. Most were cleared by the next morning.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
July 9, 4:00 PM PST to 4:10 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 0.92 mi SE of Cottonwood Lndg
Measured
43 kt (49 mph) estimated gust
Property damage
$2,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.491, -114.688

Thunderstorm winds caused minor damage to several trailers, including broken awnings and a broken window due to flying debris.

Thunderstorm Wind, Clark

When
July 9, 8:14 PM PST to 9:04 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 1.55 mi S of Dike Siding to 1.81 mi WSW of Bracken
Measured
65 kt (75 mph) measured gust
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.278, -115.000

Several trees and one street light blew down. Over 41,000 people were without power.

Heavy Rain, Clark

When
July 9, 9:30 PM PST to 11:00 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 2.95 mi ENE of Sunrise Manor to 1.57 mi NE of Las Vegas N Air Term
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
36.181, -115.019

Heavy rain collapsed part of the ceiling of a building in North Las Vegas, and a car was swamped in a puddle about 18 inches deep near Frenchman Mountain.

Lightning, Clark

When
July 9, 9:50 PM PST
Where
Clark County, 1 mi ESE of Las Vegas
Property damage
$1,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
36.164, -115.133

A palm tree caught fire from a lightning strike.

What these are

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.
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.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.
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, July 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: 773557, 773560, 773561, 773562, 773563.