Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Thunderstorm brings rain, hail, lightning to Las Vegas Valley

rain april

A rain-shrouded Las Vegas Strip is seen from Horizon Ridge Parkway, near Carnegie Street, Saturday, April 25, 2015. More than a quarter of an inch of rain fell at McCarran International Airport today, according to the National Weather Service.

Click to enlarge photo

Today's storm also created a few ponds throughout the valley, like this one at Mountain Vista Road and Harmon Avenue.

More than a quarter of an inch of rain fell on some parts of the Las Vegas Valley today, demolishing the previous record of .07 inches set in 1998, according to the National Weather Service.

“That’s pretty good,” said Weather Service meteorologist Chris Outler.

The rain has slowed since this afternoon, Outler said. By 8 p.m. tonight it should be steadily winding down.

Earlier in the day lighting was reported over Red Rock Canyon and in Las Vegas. The Weather Service also received reports of pea-sized hail downtown and in Pahrump, and 45 mph wind gusts at the North Las Vegas Airport.

With the storm came a high temperature of just 71 degrees, a full 10 degrees below the average for this time of year, according to Outler. As of 6 p.m. the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 55 degrees.

Because it has been a few weeks since the last rain, the roads are slick, Outler said, but the Weather Service has not yet issued any formal advisories to stay home.

Still, Interstate 15 and the 215 Beltway are moving slower than usual, and it's wise to to allow more room between cars to brake.

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