Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

More rain unlikely in Las Vegas, Moapa

Moapa Flooding

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Water flows down the middle of Interstate 15 in Moapa, Nev., Monday, Sept. 8, 2014. The road is closed in both directions because of the flood damage. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The rain that caused the worst flooding in Moapa since 1981​ and washed away a giant swathe of Interstate 15 likely won't continue today, according to weather officials.

A rainfall gauge at Weizer Wash, about 5 miles northeast of Moapa, recorded 4.67 inches. That's usually the rainfall total there for an entire year, said meteorologist Jim Harrison.

"Four inches of rain is ridiculous," he said. "That much rainfall in that short of time is going to cause problems."

The problems hit Moapa and Interstate 15 the hardest. Flooding was so bad that entire sections of the interstate were washed away, trapping motorists and necessitating a repair effort that officials say will take several days.

In Las Vegas, at least, the situation was a little less intense. Gauges in the west valley saw around two inches, he said, while areas like Henderson saw relatively light rain.

He said that Monday was one of the most moist days in Clark County on record. The remnants of Hurricane Norbert pushed into the region, bringing with it a tropical air mass that caused heavy rainfall in California, Nevada and Arizona. Officials knew it would be bad, so they sent out a flash flood warning days in advance.

Storms were still possible for early Tuesday morning but largely failed to show up, Harrison said. The rest of the week will be calm in the Las Vegas Valley and in Moapa, as dry air replaces the moisture and heads further east.

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