Strong monsoon storms are sweeping across the Las Vegas Valley Monday, bringing the threat of flash flooding, damaging winds, and hazardous road conditions through the night. According to Country Herald, the storms are affecting southern Nevada, northwestern Arizona, and southeastern California as they move from mountain ranges into desert valleys.
The National Weather Service in Las Vegas reports that several waves of thunderstorms are expected through late Monday, increasing the likelihood of flooding in Las Vegas, Henderson, and Boulder City. The storms will produce heavy rain, frequent lightning, and roadway flooding as they drift from mountainous areas into valley locations.
Heat and Flash Floods: A Deadly Desert Combination
The North American Monsoon brings what meteorologists describe as the United States’ two deadliest weather phenomena to Southern Nevada each year. As reported by the National Weather Service, moisture associated with the monsoon typically moves into the Mojave Desert during July and August, bringing higher humidity and triggering scattered thunderstorms that develop in surrounding mountains before moving into the valley.
The dangers are significant and well-documented. At least 35 people have died from flooding in Southern Nevada since 1960, with three fatalities reported last year alone. Two victims were homeless individuals living in flood channels who were swept away, while a third was a 13-year-old boy who drowned after being pinned under a parked car while inner tubing down a flooded street.
Infrastructure Investments Paying Off
The Clark County Regional Flood Control District has made substantial investments in valley protection over the past four decades. According to Clark County officials, the district has invested $2.5 billion in building 110 detention basins, 713 total miles of flood channels, and 222 real-time rain gauges…