Storms bring flash floods, high winds
By DAVID KIHARA
Flash flooding and powerful winds swept through parts of Southern Nevada on Friday night, drenching some areas and kicking up thick dust along Interstate 15, between Spring Mountain Road and Charleston Boulevard.
The flooding occurred in Moapa, about 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, the National Weather Service reported. A rainstorm swept through the area about 6:30 p.m. and dumped almost two inches of precipitation, the service reported.
The rain lasted about an hour, residents said.
"It (the rain) just came on all of a sudden. Everybody got all wet," said Jaimee Tom, an employee at the Moapa Paiute Travel Plaza near Interstate 15 at exit 75, about 45 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
She said ankle-deep rainwater remained in the travel plaza's parking lot about an hour after the rain had stopped.
Authorities in Las Vegas issued a severe thunderstorm warning for about 40 minutes on Friday night as strong winds blew through the valley.
The National Weather Service reported winds of up to 59 mph at Nellis Air Force Base.
Winds of up to 40 mph kicked up dust along I-15 and in downtown Las Vegas. Those winds lasted for less than an hour before moving south and becoming weaker, the weather service said.
Las Vegas police hadn't reported problems related to the wind late Friday.
Today is expected to be partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.
