Saturday, February 12, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Valley approaching annual rain total

Wet weather brings concomitant problems

So far, 2005 has been a banner year for rainfall in the Las Vegas Valley.

"We might have our annual total by the end of February," weather service spokesman Brian Fuis said. From Jan. 1 through Friday, the valley had received almost 3 inches of rain. Total rainfall for a normal year is about 4 1/2 inches.

Steady rain Friday left 0.74 inches by 4 p.m. The rainfall, though not a downpour, caused numerous fender-benders, delayed several flights and prompted cautionary measures in Mesquite, which was hit hard by flooding last month.

Though roads where rainwater typically accumulates were affected, no serious flooding was reported anywhere in the valley.

Fuis said the forecast calls for scattered showers today, but they should be gone by Sunday. Temperatures should reach the upper 50s today and the lower 60s on Sunday.

Another storm is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday, he said. The weather service expects a chance of rain through the rest of next week.

Friday's storm delayed more than a dozen flights at McCarran. Airport spokeswoman Elaine Sanchez said both inbound and outbound flights were affected.

In Mesquite, about 90 minutes north of Las Vegas, the rainfall caused enough worry that public works crews built berms in case the Virgin River's overflowed its banks again, said Heidi Albrecht with the city's emergency management office.

She said forecasts called for the river to rise to about 10 feet, which is below the 14-foot flood threshold.

"We're just being careful," she said. Last month, rain and melting snow caused the river to rise to 17 feet, flooding dozens of homes in the city.