Continued rains, flooding expected throughout the day, say forecasters
By Dave Toplikar
Published Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2010 | 6:50 a.m.
A flash flood warning was issued this morning for Las Vegas as heavy rains and snow are continuing to fall throughout the region, with flooding leading to evacuations in Mesquite and Pahrump and power being knocked out the Mount Charleston area.
Authorities advise motorists not to drive through flooded areas.
Flash flooding is dangerous and that it takes only 18 inches of swiftly moving water to sweep a vehicle off the road and less than six inches to sweep a person off their feet.
The National Weather Service put out a flash flood warning this morning through 7 a.m. for central Clark County, where rain rates of between .24 and .5 of an inch per hour were being measured by remote rain gauges.
Local law enforcement officials have reported that some roads have been flooded in the northwest part of Las Vegas.
The flash flooding area includes North Las Vegas Airport, Nellis Air Force Base, Lone Mountain, Centennial Hills, Aliante, Summerlin, Sun City Summerlin and North Las Vegas.
At 5:36 a.m., local law enforcement reported that widespread flooding is occurring throughout the Pahrump area. The National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated that locally heavy rain would continue over that area, which would also add to the flooding.
Areas affected included Pahrump, the Desert Retreat RV Resort and State Route 160 on the west side of the Spring Mountains.
The 13-mile Scenic Drive, visitor center, Red Spring and overlook on State Route 159 at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area will be closed all day today due to flooding and debris on the road from flooding, according to the Southern Nevada District Office of the Bureau of Land Management.
Flash flood watch
A flash flood watch continues through this evening for portions of northwest Arizona, California and southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas Valley.
Forecasters say occasional rain will continue through the day, with isolated thunderstorms producing locally heavy rainfall. Rainfall rates could be between one and two inches an hour, they said.
The rain will cause ponding of water in low-lying areas, as well as rapidly flowing water in normally dry washes, they said. Flows of water and mud or debris might occur over area roads, they said. Travelers, campers and residents should be aware of the potential for flash flooding, they said.
Flood warning
The flood warning will remain in effect through Thursday evening for the Virgin River and Beaver Dam Wash in northeastern Clark and north central Mohave counties, the weather service said.
Mesquite police have been asking people to voluntarily evacuate an area east of Sage Way between East Mesquite Boulevard and East Old Mill Road, forecasters said.
An evacuation center has been set up at the Virgin Valley High School and sandbags have been made available at Hunter Park.
Mandatory evacuations did occur at Beaver Dam Arizona on Tuesday. Beaver Dam Wash crested at 14.7 feet at 9 a.m. Tuesday.
At 5:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 51 degrees. The normal low for today's date is 36 degrees. The record low was 12 degrees, set in 1990.
Around the valley just before 6 a.m., temperatures were 50 degrees at North Las Vegas Airport, 52 degrees at Nellis Air Force Base and 50 degrees at Henderson Executive Airport.
Temperatures in the valley were to rise today to 53 degrees by 9 a.m., to 55 degrees by noon, which is expected to be the high for the day, forecasters said. The normal high for today's date is 56 degrees and the record high was 68 degrees, set in 1950.
Temperatures are expected to drop to 48 degrees by 6 p.m., and remain at 48 degrees at 9 p.m. and at midnight, forecasters said.
Thursday's morning low will be 45 degrees and Thursday's high will climb to 57 degrees, they said.
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