More storms in forecast before skies clear for weekend

By Ian Whitaker

Wednesday, July 9, 2014 | 9:32 a.m.

Storms that prompted severe weather warnings Tuesday are likely to develop again today and tomorrow before things dry out in time for the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

But sunny and hot weather is expected to return for the weekend, with highs between 105 and 107 degrees.

“Today is one of those transition days,” said weather service meteorologist Dan Berc.

The valley has been peppered with scattered thunderstorms — some of them heavy — since Friday, when Las Vegas finally broke a 125-day dry spell.

The majority of rain has fallen in the southern half of the valley. Henderson got nearly an inch of rain Tuesday.

At Lake Mead on Tuesday, storms caused swells of up to 8 feet that stranded boaters and prompted more than 70 distress calls and 11 rescues.

As the storm moved in, officials at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area warned boaters to don their life vests and head to shore.

All of those stranded were accounted for by 11 p.m. in a search and rescue effort that included the Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife and Metro Police air units.

One woman had to tread water for three hours without a life jacket before she was rescued at 8 p.m., according to the National Park Service. Her husband and stepson were rescued earlier, officials said.

At least one vessel sank and others had to be towed to shore.