Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

As storms batter Las Vegas, fire officials rescue 4 trapped

0409WeatherFeature03

Steve Marcus

MGM Grand employees work to clear rain runoff from the entrance to the MGM Grand Garden Arena after a rainstorm swept through the Strip Saturday, April 9, 2016.

Updated Saturday, April 9, 2016 | 8:26 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

Traffic is shown in heavy rain on Green Valley Parkway in Henderson Saturday, April 9, 2016.

Storms packing heavy rain, strong winds and hail rolled through the Las Vegas Valley on Saturday, prompting flash floods and swiftwater rescues.

The Clark County Fire Department responded about 4 p.m. to an incident in which five vehicles were stuck in water at 3950 Koval Lane, near Winnick Avenue. Two adults and one child were rescued.

Metro Police shut down Winnick, fire officials said.

Earlier in the day, the fire department rescued a 50-year-old man from a flood-control channel under the Dean Martin Drive overpass, south of Tropicana Avenue and behind the closed Golden Palms Hotel, officials said. He was trapped amid rising water and heavy rain but was uninjured.

About the same time, three people trapped in the flood-control channel on Dean Martin north of Flamingo Road also were rescued, officials said. One suffered a minor leg injury and was hospitalized.

Fire department crews were posted in other hazardous areas in case anyone else needed rescue, officials said.

The Clark County Regional Flood Control District advised that drivers “turn around and don’t drown” when they see flood water. Vehicles can stall in as little as 1 foot of rain and can become uncontrollable in 2 feet of water.

There were reports of 8 feet of water at the Desert Rose Golf Course and 9 feet of water in the Las Vegas Wash, west of Nellis, flood-control officials said Saturday afternoon.

The strong part of the storm was moving out through North Las Vegas early Saturday afternoon, where about 1.5 inches of rain, a record, was reported at the city's airport, National Weather Service meteorologist Barry Pierce said. Shortly before 1:30 p.m., the Regional Transportation Commission reported that ramp lanes were flooded on Interstate 15 near U.S. Highway 95 and that Spring Mountain Road was flooded from Industrial Road and Valley View Boulevard.

Furthermore, McCarran International Airport accumulated 0.54 inch of rain, also breaking a record, the weather service said.

There were reports of pea-sized to quarter-inch hail through the valley as well as wind gusts up to 50 mph, Pierce said.

The Las Vegas 51s game was postponed and they will play a doubleheader Sunday, the team announced on Twitter.

The Clark County Wetlands Park on Facebook advised visitors to stay away on Saturday, as there was flooding on roads and trails.

Las Vegans should expect more rainfall and thunderstorms through the evening, which aren't forecast to be as strong, he said.

Southern Nevada residents should expect more rain Sunday, according to the weather service.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy