The aftermath of a flash flood through the Linq parking garage and surrounding areas August 4, 2017.
Published Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 | 1:24 p.m.
Updated Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 | 9:23 p.m.
Six people were rescued from the wash behind the Linq on the Las Vegas Strip Friday afternoon after major flooding from rain showers across the valley.
Clark County Fire Department officials say they pulled the people from rushing floodwaters behind the casino. Firefighters also rescued a person from flooding near Siegel Suites on Boulder Highway, and were still looking for another missing person, according to fire officials.
The Strip got nearly a half-inch of rain Friday, which is the highest recorded amount of rainfall in the valley, according to the National Weather Service. Video on social media shows flooding inside the Linq parking garage with cars partially under water.
The storms didn’t stay in the valley for long but did cause extensive flooding, the weather service said.
The southwest valley received the brunt of the storm for about 30 minutes Friday afternoon, meteorologist Chelsea Kryston said Friday night.
Rainfall totals there were a third to half an inch, which is a substantial amount for such a short period of time, she added.
Water from that downpour flowed to the Linq, causing the flooding issues, Kryston said.
Multiple cars were stranded after getting stuck in floodwaters at the intersection of Twain Avenue and Dean Martin Drive Friday afternoon.
Storms developed over the mountains Friday morning, but they didn’t hit the valley until about noon, officials said. At Mount Charleston, the weather service measured almost 3 inches of rain, an amount not seen there previously, Kryston said.
Mount Charleston Fire Protection District reported heavy rains that caused flooding and left debris on the roadways on the mountain. Fire Chief Jorge Gonzalez advised valley residents not to travel on highways 156 or 157 unless absolutely necessary.
Highway 160 was closed at Tecopa Road due to flooding, according to the Pahrump Fire Department. The department reported about 100 vehicles stopped waiting for the water to recede.
The storms were moving northeast at about 10 mph, and were being followed by another group of storms that are expected to be in the valley until midnight, officials said Friday.
If rain falls on Saturday — when there’s a 40 percent chance — it won’t be in the magnitude seen on Friday, Kryston said. The chances will decrease to about 10 percent after 6 p.m. and the same possibility will remain in place going into next week.
Temperatures in the Las Vegas Valley did not rise above 94 on Friday, Kryston said. Saturday should be a little toastier, she added, with a projection of 99 degrees, which can increase or decrease based on cloud activity.
