A rainbow stretches across the sky in the distance behind the horseback riding stables within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as storms move across the region on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
Cars battle rush hour traffic amidst a flash flood warning along Eastern Ave and Robindale Road on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Henderson. (Daniel Pearson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Gray clouds as seen from Flamingo and Eastern looking toward the Las Vegas Strip on Friday, Aug 18, 2023. (Tony Garcia/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cars battle rush hour traffic amidst a flash flood warning along Eastern Ave and Robindale Road on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Henderson. (Daniel Pearson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cars battle rush hour traffic amidst flash flood along Eastern Avenue and Robindale Road on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Henderson. (Daniel Pearson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cars battle rush hour traffic amidst flash flood along Eastern Avenue and Robindale Road on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Henderson. (Daniel Pearson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cars battle rush hour traffic amidst flash flood along Eastern Avenue and Robindale Road on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Henderson. (Daniel Pearson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cars battle rush hour traffic amidst flash flood warning along Eastern Avenue and Robindale Road on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Henderson. (Daniel Pearson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Cars battle rush hour traffic amidst a flash flood warning along Eastern Ave and Robindale Road on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Henderson. (Daniel Pearson/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Dark clouds form over a Las Vegas subdivision on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Christina Cook)
People shelter from rain on Las Vegas Boulevard in downtown Las Vegas Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Storms move across the area and dump lots of rain about the central part of the city on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
Storms move across the area and dump lots of rain about the central part of the city on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
Storms move across the area and dump lots of rain about the central part of the city on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
A cyclist pedals fast in an attempt to avoid a serious downpour headed through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
A rainbow stretches across the sky in the distance beyond the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area as storms move across the region on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
Many streets including South Cimarron Road flood causing cars to kick up the pooling water as storms move across the region on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images
A rainbow appears over the Las Vegas Valley on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Elena Santistevan)
Sarmen Mesropyan
Sarmen Mesropyan
A rainbow near Jones and U.S. 95 about 7:20 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Wendy Villacorta)
Heavy clouds over Las Vegas as a motorist heads north on Interstate 15 during the afternoon of Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. (Jason Sanchez)
Tabitha Brand
Rain settles in near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
People watch the rain come in near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Rain settles in near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Rain settles in from near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
An emergency alert for flash flooding due to storms is displayed on a car screen for the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Rain near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Rain settles in near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
A double rainbow is seen on Nevada State Route 146 during rainfall on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Rain settles in near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area on Friday, Aug. 18, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Madeline Carter/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
As forecast, monsoonal rains hit the Las Vegas Valley much of the day Friday in advance of a tropical storm expected to arrive sometime Saturday.
Rainfall was widespread across the valley by 6 p.m. with more moisture and storms expected into the overnight hours.
The biggest deluge in the afternoon round was .67 of an inch near Green Valley. Calico Basin received .31 of an inch while The Lakes received the same. A gauge near UNLV recorded .20 of an inch. The Strip had received from a tenth to a quarter of an inch.
The Southern Highlands area was at .91 of an inch because of some morning rush hour storms followed by some afternoon rainfall and a third around as the evening started.
“This will be intermittent all evening and maybe into the overnight hours,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Morgan Stessman. “Then it will be Hilary precipitation sometime Saturday.”
At 8:30 p.m. about 4,400 NV Energy customers were without power. The majority were south and east of downtown Las Vegas in multiple locations.
The rain may have been a factor in some car crashes across the valley. As of 9:15 p.m., Metro was investigating 16 car crashes, including nine with injuries.
More cells moving north
Some widespread storm cells moved northeast of the valley as of 9 p.m.
A flash flood warning was issued for Red Rock Canyon, Spring Mountain Ranch and Nevada Route 159 around 4 p.m.
Because of the rainfall, Red Rock Canyon said the Scenic Drive would be closed all weekend.
Many other recreation areas have been closed in anticipation of heavy rainfall, perhaps more than the region has received in any recent storm.
Contact Marvin Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com . Follow @Marv_in_Vegas on X.