Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Las Vegas ties record for rainfall on today’s date

Updated Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 | 3:01 p.m.

The Nevada Highway Patrol has responded to some 50 accidents today on rain-slicked highways as Las Vegas tied its all-time rain record for this date, officials said.

As of 2 p.m., about .17 inches of rain had fallen at the National Weather Service’s official measuring station at McCarran International Airport, tying a record set in 1986, meteorologist Chris Stachelski said. Records go back to 1937.

Between about .16 and .25 inches have fallen in most of the valley, though some areas in south Henderson have seen close to .3 inches, Stachelski said.

The rain has contributed to many accidents, with mostly single-vehicle crashes as drivers accelerated too quickly or hydroplaned on the wet roads, Trooper Loy Hixson said.

Among the crashes that wreaked the most havoc was a jackknifed FedEx double semitrailer that blocked the ramp connecting I-15 South and the eastbound 215 Beltway. The accident happened about 7 a.m. and closed all lanes in the area, Hixson said.

A similar accident occurred about 7:30 a.m. when a tractor-trailer jackknifed on the southbound Airport Connector to the 215 Beltway and blocked the single-lane ramp, Hixson said.

Both accidents were cleared by about 10:30 a.m., he said.

Of the 50 accidents reported, nine resulted in minor injuries, Hixson said. No serious injuries have been reported today, he said.

The Clark County Regional Flood Control District warned residents to stay out of washes and channels. The Flamingo Wash east of Nellis Boulevard was filled with more than five feet of water.

The rain is set to continue through the rest of the day before tapering off tonight, according to the Weather Service.

There is a 60 percent chance of rain early tonight, dropping to a 20 percent by Saturday morning, according to the Weather Service.

Parts of the valley may also see fog tonight into Saturday morning, with a higher chance in areas like Red Rock, Stachelski said. Sunday is expected to be sunny.

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