Rain falls in parts of valley, more could be on the way

By John Taylor (contact)

Published Monday, May 6, 2013 | 1:35 p.m.

Updated Monday, May 6, 2013 | 2:20 p.m.

A light rain Monday afternoon in the southern and eastern parts of the Las Vegas Valley probably didn’t amount to much, but farther north and east heavier rain and small hail was reported, the National Weather Service said.

Rain, accompanied by occasional thunderclaps, started falling shortly after noon in areas that included Henderson Executive Airport, Green Valley and Black Mountain. Though the precipitation was brief in those areas, farther to the north the rain was heavier and joined by small hail.

Chris Stumpf, a meteorologist with the Las Vegas office of the National Weather Service, characterized the storm as “light for the most part.” As the storm moved to the north, it appeared to pick up in intensity with small hail reported in the area of Nellis and Charleston boulevards.

The Clark County Regional Flood Control's rain gauge at the Sloan Channel near Sahara Avenue measured .2 inches of rain, the most in the valley. Farther north, near Nellis Air Base, another gauge measured .16 inches of rain.

One commenter on the National Weather Service's Facebook page reported a downpour at Sahara and Tree Line Drive. Other commenters on social media sites posted photos of flooded intersections.

Precipitation remains in the forecast for later Monday and Tuesday.

“The potential is there to get more rain,” Stumpf said. “Maybe a light-to-moderate shower.”

Stumpf said the chances for rainfall Tuesday would be greatest around midday.

Monday’s rain was the first precipitation in a while, Stumpf said. On April 8, the NWS recorded .03 of an inch of rain at McCarran International Airport. There was a trace of rain recorded April 16, Stumpf said.