Las Vegas Strip floods again as wettest monsoon season in 10 years soaks region

Video from the strip showed water rushing through parking garages and even across Las Vegas Boulevard -- otherwise known as "The Strip." Heavy rains caused issues indoors as well with water pouring in from ceilings in some of the famous casinos, including Planet Hollywood.

LAS VEGAS -- Another round of monsoon-triggered thunderstorms set off another round of flooded streets and indoor rain events in Las Vegas Thursday night.

Video showed water rushing through parking garages and even across Las Vegas Boulevard -- otherwise known as "The Strip." Heavy rains caused issues indoors as well with water pouring in from ceilings in some casinos, including Planet Hollywood.

"Well, that escalated quickly," the National Weather Service forecasters in Las Vegas wrote in their Thursday night forecast update.  "Feisty late evening storm went up over the Sheep Range with additional activity propagating southward into the Las Vegas Valley."

Over a half inch of rain fell in a short period of time, according to the National Weather Service, with 0.58 inches at Las Vegas' McCarran Airport.  That is the wettest day in Las Vegas since March 12, 2020 and brings the summer rainfall total to 1.28 inches so far, making it the wettest monsoon season since 2012, reports the NWS.

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"We have a ridge in the upper levels and that is pulling all moisture -- either from the Gulf of Mexico or from the Pacific Ocean," said FOX Weather meteorologist Jason Frazer. "When that happens, you get these afternoon thunderstorms… once these thunderstorms move in, they tend to be heavy and intense at times."

In addition to heavy rain, frequent lightning set multiple trees ablaze on the northern side of town, according to spotter reports called into the NWS, as wind gusts reached 64 mph at two different locations around the city. 

It was the second time this summer that streets and casinos have flooded in Las Vegas. Heavy rains brought similar issues across the city on July 28. 

More monsoon rainfall possible Friday

The water-logged Las Vegas valley gets little chance to wring out as more monsoon-fueled thunderstorms were possible Friday afternoon.

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Flood Watches are in effect for much of southern Nevada, including Las Vegas, northern Arizona and Southern Utah through midnight Saturday morning for excessive runoff due to heavy rains.

Flash Flood Threat
(FOX Weather)


 

Once again, scattered thunderstorms are expected to not only carry heavy rain, but be slow movers, allowing rain to quickly accumulate. 

The monsoonal pattern shows little change through the weekend into next week with daily threats of scattered thunderstorms that can cause near instant flash flooding where storms set up and stall. Storms may produce a quick 1-2 inches of rain, overwhelming storm drains and filling washes with raging torrents.

Rainfall Forecast
(FOX Weather)


 
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