Lightning in Nevada

Events

81

Deaths

1

Injuries

22

Damage

$8.4 million

• Flash Flooding and Hail in Nevada, June 28 to 30, 20162 deaths · 1 injured · $50 million · 2 in hail · 14 eventsThe 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.
• Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Nevada, July 19 to 20, 19981 death · $13 million · 53 kt wind · 5 eventsSevere thunderstorms moved into the Las Vegas Valley and nearby Lake Mead bringing wind gusts in excess of 60 mph and heavy showers which dumped between 1.50 and 2.25 inches of rain overnight.
• Flash Flooding and Dust Storm in Nevada, August 9 to 11, 20221 death · 2 injured · $33,000 · 56 kt wind · 12 eventsMoist southeast flow fueled thunderstorms over southern Nevada. Several storms produced severe weather, and a few produced flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Nevada, July 12 to 16, 2012$50 million · 1.25 in hail · 15 eventsA strong push of monsoon moisture fueled a five-day outbreak of thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Numerous storms produced flash flooding and/or severe weather.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Nevada, October 9 to 11, 20251 death · $32,000 · 55 kt wind · 8 eventsThe remnants of Pacific Hurricane Priscilla pushed tropical moisture into southern Nevada, fueling scattered thunderstorms. Several produced heavy rain and flash flooding, and a few produced severe weather.
• Lightning Strike in Nevada, July 8, 20061 death · 1 injured · 1 eventA 16 year old boy was struck and killed by lightning when he and his dad got out of their pickup truck to check the tires. His father was thrown to the ground when the lightning struck. The father was taken to the hospital for treatment and released.
• Lightning Strike and Heavy Rain in Nevada, May 1 to 2, 20181 death · $10,000 · 3 eventsA low pressure system passing over the Mojave Desert brought isolated impacts from rain and thunderstorms to the Las Vegas Valley.
• Flash Flood and Lightning Strike in Nevada, August 27, 2007$6.0 million · 2 eventsA late-season surge of monsoon moisture was already in place when the remnant circulation of former Atlantic Hurricane Dean moved over southern Nevada during the pre-dawn hours of August 27th, resulting in major flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Nevada, July 17 to 21, 2018$1.8 million · 65 kt wind · 14 eventsAfter a brief break, another push of monsoon moisture fueled another outbreak of thunderstorms across the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Many storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
• Flash Flood and Flood in Nevada, July 24 to 25, 2024$2.5 million · 3 eventsThunderstorms brought locally heavy rain and a flash flood potential along with strong outflow gusts through Wednesday. Abundant moisture and instability were present as noted by the 0.81 PWAT reading from the 23 July 1200Z KREV sounding this morning.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Nevada, July 9, 19981 injured · $1.5 million · 3 eventsHeavy rain producing thunderstorms formed over the southeast side of the Las Vegas Valley during a two hour period. At the onset of the storms, a lightning strike set fire to a large house which completely destroyed the structure.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Nevada, August 30 to 31, 2013$1.2 million · 11 eventsAnother surge of monsoon moisture fueled widespread thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Many storms produced flash flooding, and isolated severe weather also occurred.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in Nevada, September 25 to 27, 2014$607,000 · 55 kt wind · 17 eventsA Pacific storm system brought a period of wind ahead of it, then tapped into deep moisture which fueled severe thunderstorms and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Lightning Strike in Nevada, July 27 to 28, 2014$1.0 million · 3 eventsAfter a short dry spell, another push of monsoon moisture fueled more thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert, some of which produced flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Nevada, August 7 to 8, 20082 injured · $261,000 · 52 kt wind · 5 eventsAnother push of monsoon moisture led to thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert, some of which produced severe weather and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Dust Storm in Nevada, August 13 to 14, 2015$451,000 · 54 kt wind · 9 eventsAnother push of monsoon moisture fueled thunderstorms over the eastern portions of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Some storms produced severe weather and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Nevada, August 22 to 23, 2016$358,000 · 1 in hail · 10 eventsA significant push of monsoon moisture, aided by an approaching upper level trough, brought an outbreak of severe weather and flash flooding.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Nevada, September 13 to 16, 2011$327,000 · 0.75 in hail · 11 eventsA slow moving upper level low and monsoon moisture fueled thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Many storms produced flash flooding and severe weather.
• Lightning Strike in Nevada, June 22, 2005$500,000 · 1 eventLightning strike started a fire which burned several condominiums.
• Lightning Strike in Nevada, August 1, 2012$500,000 · 1 eventIsolated early morning thunderstorms rumbled over Henderson. One lightning strike caused damage.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Nevada, July 11 to 15, 2021$219,000 · 70 kt wind · 18 eventsMonsoon moisture slowly seeped into the region under the big dome of high pressure which was causing record-breaking temperatures, fueling isolated to scattered thunderstorms. As the moisture increased, the main thunderstorm impact transitioned from high winds to flash flooding.
• Hail and Lightning Strike in Nevada, June 28, 2013$300,000 · 1.5 in hail · 2 eventsA strong ridge of high pressure centered over Utah and eastern Nevada brought hot temperatures to western Nevada on the 28th. The heat set the stage for strong to severe thunderstorms with gusty winds over 50 mph and large hail in the Reno area.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Nevada, August 7 to 8, 2010$241,000 · 1 in hail · 5 eventsAn unseasonably deep Pacific trough interacted with monsoon moisture to produce scattered severe thunderstorms and flash flooding across the Mojave Desert.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Nevada, June 10 to 14, 20157 injured · $15,000 · 5 eventsAn unusually late-season low pressure system combined with unusually early-season deep subtropical moisture to fuel scattered thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Some storms produced flash flooding, and isolated wind damage also occurred.
• Heavy Snow and Damaging Wind in Nevada, January 30 to 31, 2016$200,000 · 59 kt wind · 5 eventsA strong Pacific storm system brought high winds to the Owens Valley and Mojave Desert, high winds and severe thunderstorms to the Mojave Desert, and heavy snow to the southern Great Basin. The episode continued into February.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Nevada

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.