Record-breaking rain for April in Las Vegas, and it’s not done yet
April 28, 2016 - 9:02 pm
Thursday’s record-breaking rainfall may return over the weekend, but Friday will be warm and sunny, according to the National Weather Service.
The previous record for rainfall on Thursday was 0.09 inches and set in 1952. As of 7 p.m. Thursday 0.22 inches of rain had fallen, and some areas of the Valley saw dime-sized hail.
Friday will be drier with a high of 81 degrees. Then more rain moves into the valley.
“We are basically getting the same storm twice,” meteorologist Reid Wolcott said.
Saturday has a 40 to 50 percent chance for rain and will be cooler with a high of 69 degrees. Sunday will warm up again with a high of 76, and may have some lingering showers, but should be fairly dry, according to the weather service.
April is usually one of the dryest months of the year in Las Vegas, but this month’s rainfall is already well above the 0.14 inch average. There have been six rainy days this month and the 1965 record is eight rainy days. That record may be broken. The valley has seen a total of 1.25 inches of rain this month and the 1965 record is 2.44 inches, according to the weather service.
The storm left snow in the Spring Mountains at the Mt. Charleston Lodge and Lee Canyon, and Saturday may bring more snow at higher elevations.
“There’s a fairly nice dusting of snow,” he said.
Death Valley may see some of the rain with a 40 percent chance Saturday. The rain “will let those blooms that have survived shine a little bit longer,” the National Park Service said.
Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0381. Find @lawrenlinehan on Twitter.