A push of monsoon moisture fueled an outbreak of thunderstorms across the Mojave Desert. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
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.
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 an outbreak of thunderstorms across 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 14, 10:23 AM PST, 3 hours 22 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Las Vegas NV 1123 AM PDT Thu Jul 14 2022 .SYNOPSIS...Increased monsoonal activity is anticipated today and Friday as moisture increases across the region. Scattered showers and storms are expected to form each afternoon, bringing the potential for lightning, gusty winds, and locally heavy rainfall. Outside of any precipitation, triple digit heat will persist. && .SHORT TERM...Today and Friday. Moisture continues to increase across the area as southerly flow associated with the Four-Corners high persists. This morning's 12z sounding showed roughly a 0.1" increase in PWAT from yesterday morning. Perhaps more importantly, however, was the increase in low- level moisture and slightly cooler temperatures aloft. This will help foster greater instability across the area, particularly along and south of I-15 where the best moisture should reside. 12z HREF has ensemble mean CAPE values around 500 J/kg, with ensemble max values around 1000 J/kg. Additionally, intense overnight convection over northwest Mexico has produced a subtle upper-level disturbance/MCV-like feature that should move with the mean flow into our area, providing some upper-level support. As a result, today looks to be a fairly active monsoon day, particularly across Mohave, Clark, and Lincoln Counties, though some hi-res guidance suggests San Bernardino and Inyo Counties could get busy as well. Scattered storms should initiate on the higher terrain around noon, before moving off the terrain or producing outflows that begin to trigger new convection in the lower elevations. With DCAPE values around 1200-1500 J/kg, gusty outflow winds will be the primary concern with any storm, though increased low-level moisture will increase the localized heavy rainfall threat. The 12z HREF highlights the McCullough, southern Spring, Hualapai mountain ranges with the highest QPF, with 24-hr localized probability-matched mean values around 0.5"-1.5". Activity should begin to wane around sunset, though outflow boundary interactions may keep some storms going into the night. With moisture forecast to remain in place and the upper-levels largely unchanged, tomorrow is shaping up to be another active day as well. Guidance suggests scattered showers and storms across most of the area, with a shift in the greatest activity in central Nevada. Similar to today, storms will begin in the high terrain during the late morning or early afternoon, with gusty winds and locally heavy rainfall as the primary concerns. Outside of the thunderstorm potential, the heat will persist. With temperatures running several degrees above normal, most locations will top out in the 100s and 110s both afternoons, leading to moderate HeatRisk. .LONG TERM...Saturday through Wednesday. Broad ridge of high pressure to remain in place into early next week, with high center meandering around the Four Corners region. Moisture circulating around the high keeps the potential of isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast through Monday, with potentially less coverage Tuesday and Wednesday. The lack of upper-level forcing means the high terrain will be the areas to watch for initial thunderstorm development. Heat is forecast to persist across the area as well with highs forecast to remain several degrees above average. && .FIRE WEATHER...Main fire weather concerns over the next several days will be the potential for dry lightning. Thunderstorm chances with wetting rain increase for northwest Arizona and southern Nevada. The best chances for dry lightning will be in northern Lincoln County and the Sierra crest where low-levels are drier. Gusty and erratic winds will likely with any storm that develops. With the pattern holding into next week, isolated to scattered showers/storms are expected each afternoon, mainly in the higher terrain of Mohave, Lincoln, and Clark Counties. While the heat will persist, afternoon humidities are forecast to be generally between 15 and 25 percent. && .AVIATION...For Harry Reid...Significant impacts may be possible this afternoon and evening for the Harry Reid terminal as TSRA development could lead to strong outflow winds. After 20Z, VCTS is expected in the high terrain of the Valley, with the highest confidence to the south and east. This would impact approaches, but also could lead to strong outflow winds, potentially up to 40 kts or higher from those directions. Lower confidence on actual RA reaching the terminal, but that is also a possibility along with ceilings falling briefly to 6-7kft. There is a non-zero chance for an airport weather warning as well should winds develop stronger than anticipated. Coverage should subside after 03Z tonight resulting in lighter winds overnight with SCT clouds. Another round of TSRA is possible again tomorrow. For the rest of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and southeast California...An afternoon and evening of monsoonal activity is expected across the region that could impact all regional terminals at some point over the next 12 hours. Included prevailing or TEMPO groups for areas of highest confidence which included KLAS/KVGT/KHND, but VCTS for KDAG/KBIH/KEED/KIFP as well. All sites may require amendments this afternoon and evening as outflow develops and adds confidence to the forecast. Coverage should dissipate after 03Z with another round of storms possible tomorrow as well. && .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...Spotters are encouraged to report any significant weather or impacts according to standard operating procedures. && SHORT TERM...Woods LONG TERM...Pierce AVIATION...TB3 For more forecast information...see us on our webpage: https://weather.gov/lasvegas or follow us on Facebook and Twitter
The Las Vegas radar (KESX), 38 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 21:43 UTC.
2 thunderstorm wind, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorm winds uprooted a large tree.
Landspout. Location: approximately 37.930N 117.93W. Multiple people photographed a landspout in open desert terrain.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Nevada in 2022Every state in 2022This day in weather historyWarnings in Nevada, July 2022
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: 1049813, 1049816, 1049817.