A view of homes in the Echo Canyon subdivision of Kyle Canyon on Thursday. Metro search and rescue officers evacuated residents from the area due to an avalanche threat. All the residents who were contacted evacuated voluntarily, said Metro Sgt. Eric Fricker. Areas of Kyle Canyon received between 37 and 90 inches of snow.
Published Friday, Dec. 24, 2010 | 9:37 a.m.
Updated Friday, Dec. 24, 2010 | 1:48 p.m.
KSNV Mount Charleston
KSNV coverage of Mount Charleston snow, Dec. 24, 2010.
Mount Charleston residents were allowed back to their homes Friday after an avalanche warning for the Echo Canyon area was downgraded to an advisory, Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said.
Power still remains out in the Kyle Canyon area, and only residents are being allowed past the State Route 157 and 158 junction. The county is advising residents to be mindful in the snow and to be aware of snow falling from roofs, which could be heavy enough to cause injury.
“Don’t go hiking through the snow, snow-shoeing or sledding,” Kulin said.
Kulin said the hotel at the bottom of the mountain is open but the lodge at the top is still closed and without power.
NV Energy spokesman Mark Severts said crews restored power to the Old Town and Rainbow area of Kyle Canyon but were avoiding Echo Canyon because of the avalanche advisory. Those customers were still without power and some will need to have their individual service lines repaired, he said.
Several days of steady rain — including a record 1.01 inches on Wednesday at McCarran International Airport — caused extensive flooding in the Las Vegas Valley, and Mount Charleston got up to 90 inches of fresh snow.
Metro Police went door-to-door Thursday evacuating residents after the avalanche warning was issued.
There were three snow slides on the mountain overnight Wednesday, which occurred in the Echo and Cathedral subdivisions, Clark County officials said. Residents on the mountain were “strongly urged” to leave their homes and go somewhere safe.
No injuries were reported in the slides.
Also on Friday, the 13-Mile Scenic Drive, visitor center, Red Spring and overlook on State Route 159 at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area reopened, the Bureau of Land Management said.
Several areas along the 13-Mile Scenic Drive remain closed because of flood damage from the recent rains — White Rock Road, Lost Creek/Will Springs area and Oak Creek Road. These are anticipated to reopen after the weekend, officials said.
Today is forecast to be sunny with a high near 60 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. But a flood warning remains in effect until 4 p.m. today for the lower Muddy River in northeast Clark County. Officials report that water on the river is receding since cresting Thursday night.
The Christmas Day forecast calls for mostly sunny skies with a high near 62 and calm wind.
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