Wettest day of the year: Thunderstorm dumps heavy rain, causes havoc

By Pashtana Usufzy, Jackie Valley

Published Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 | 3:38 p.m.

Updated Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015 | 10:10 p.m.

Intense storms brought rain, lightning and winds in excess of 60 mph Thursday afternoon to the Las Vegas Valley, causing traffic-snarling car accidents, mass power outages and flooding at multiple intersections, according to the National Weather Service and NV Energy.

A severe thunderstorm warning and flash flood warning were issued for Henderson and the east Las Vegas Valley as heavy rain fell in the afternoon, according to the Weather Service. The thunderstorm warning expired about 5 p.m., and the flood warning expired about 7:15 p.m., Weather Service meteorologist Justin Pullin said.

Rain continued in the Green Valley area into the evening as weak showers and thunderstorms moved through, he said.

There’s a 20 percent chance for showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. Friday.

The weather service said Thursday was the wettest day of the year with 0.57 inches of rainfall recorded at the official measurement station at McCarran International Airport.

The rainfall also broke the Aug. 13 daily precipitation record, which was set in 1970 with 0.53 inches. Records go back to 1937.

A semitrailer struck the center median on the westbound 215 Beltway near Pecos Road, spilling an undisclosed amount of fuel onto the roadway as the fuel tank ruptured Thursday afternoon, Nevada Highway Patrol Trooper Loy Hixson said.

Troopers were called about 3:50 p.m. to the accident, which occurred on the highway soaked from the storm, he said.

The road was shut down, and traffic was exiting on Pecos/St. Rose Parkway, he said. Traffic was able to re-enter on Eastern Avenue.

Crews were on scene working to clean up the spill and no injuries were reported.

Hixson said the highway patrol was handling a maximum of 10 incidents at a time Thursday, which is double the normal number during the afternoon commute.

The Clark County Regional Flood Control District reported via Twitter that police closed Horizon Ridge Parkway at Stephanie Street due to flooding.

Henderson also warned via Twitter that flooding was affecting numerous intersections in the city including Marks Street and Warm Springs Road as well as Basic Road and Boulder Highway Trail.

The highway patrol reported traffic signals malfunctioning on Craig Road over Interstate 15 due to a power outage. Drivers were advised to treat the area as a four-way stop, Hixson said.

Nevada Department of Transportation crews had not received any reports of major damage caused by the weather as of Thursday night, but they were still assessing what repairs will be needed along state-maintained routes, spokesman Tony Illia said.

Maintenance crews will be busy Friday cleaning up decorative rock, dirt and other debris on those routes, he said.

McCarran grounded flights and incoming planes were told to stay where they were if they hadn't left Thursday afternoon. At least four incoming flights were sent elsewhere. The Federal Aviation Administration reported average flight departure delays of at least 2 hours in the afternoon, but those delays had been resolved by Thursday night.

Water leaked through the Golden Nugget's ceiling onto three craps tables in downtown Las Vegas.

About a half-dozen tree fires were reported across the valley, and a few motorists stuck in floodwaters sought to be rescued, Las Vegas Fire & Rescue spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

More than 45 first responders reported to a fire in the trees outside of homes in the 4100 block of Philadelphia Avenue, near Lamb Boulevard and Wyoming Avenue, according to the Clark County Fire Department.

The homes did not catch fire, and no injuries were reported.

Power outages, meanwhile, left more than 5,900 NV Energy customers without power in Southern Nevada as of 9:50 p.m., according to the company’s outage website. At one point, more than 10,000 customers were affected.

NV Energy asked customers through the outage center to be patient, as 27 electric poles were down in Henderson due to the weather.

Henderson advised residents who were without power to stay with family or friends. Those unable to do so may be able to find shelter at the Heritage Park Senior Facility, located at 300 S. Racetrack Road, near Burkholder Boulevard.

About 1 to 1.5 inches of rain were measured Thursday in the east valley and near Lake Mead National Recreation Area, meteorologist Barry Pierce said.

Light showers moved through the western valley as the storm moved north, Pullin said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.