Clear skies, high temperatures return to valley

Your umbrellas are going to be get a break over the weekend, Las Vegas.

After Thursday's torrential rain in the valley and severe thunderstorm warnings Tuesday for areas south of Las Vegas, the valley is expected to warm up, and fast, the National Weather Service said.

A record-breaking 0.57 inches of rain fell at McCarran International Airport during Thursday's storm, making it the wettest day of the year. The previous Aug. 13 record was set in 1970, with 0.04 inches of rain. The second-wettest day of the year was Jan. 11, with 0.46 inches of precipitation at the airport.

NV Energy reported 27 downed power poles in Henderson as a result of the storm. More than 2,000 customers were without power in Southern Nevada Friday afternoon, about 1,850 of which were in the Henderson ZIP code of 89015.

"Our crews have been on-site replacing poles and making repairs since yesterday," NV Energy spokeswoman Jennifer Schuricht said Friday. "We estimate power will be fully restored by early Saturday morning."

The American Red Cross opened two emergency shelters for Henderson residents who are without power, the city of Henderson wrote on its Facebook page. The Downtown Recreation Center, at 105 W. Basic Road, and the Heritage Park Senior Facility, at 300 S. Racetrack Road, will be open 24 hours.

Friday's clouds looked as ominous as the ones that dropped more than 2 inches of rain on Henderson Thursday, but officially the valley only saw a trace of rain, meteorologist Barry Pierce said Friday evening.

While a severe thunderstorm warning was issued between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Friday for areas south of Las Vegas, between Primm and Jean, the valley only saw a few showers.

High temperatures Friday reached a relatively cool 101 degrees. Mostly sunny skies are expected today.

Temperatures could climb as high as 110 degrees, Pierce said.

An excessive heat warning is in effect from noon Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday, with temperatures expected to reach 113 in some parts of the valley.

But, don't let this weekend's sunny skies fool you. Extreme weather, prompted by the monsoon season, is far from its end in Las Vegas.

The constant summer rainy period known all too well to locals won't be over until at least September, the weather service said.

Review-Journal writer Kimber Laux contributed to this report. Contact Kimberly De La Cruz at kdelacruz@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Find her on Twitter: @KimberlyinLV