AP

2 dead amid ‘restless’ monsoon-season flooding in Las Vegas

Aug 12, 2022, 3:32 AM | Updated: 3:34 pm

In this photo provided by Dakota Snider, a thunderstorm is seen from Highway 159 over Las Vegas on ...

In this photo provided by Dakota Snider, a thunderstorm is seen from Highway 159 over Las Vegas on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. A summer monsoon thunderstorm season unseen in Las Vegas in the last 10 years brought lightning and heavy rain to some areas late Thursday, and ceiling leaks that soaked playing cards and gambling at some Strip casinos. No injuries were reported, and damage estimates were not immediately provided as Friday dawned sunny and clear. (Dakota Snider via AP)

(Dakota Snider via AP)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The most “restless” summer monsoon season in a decade became deadly Thursday, as intense lightning and thunderstorms flooded parts of southern Nevada and a leaky ceiling forced table games to stop at one Las Vegas Strip casino.

A man’s body was found Friday by public works crews and firefighters removing debris from a flood channel near the Las Vegas Boulevard resort area where a person died about midnight despite being pulled by firefighters from floodwaters, Deputy Clark County Fire Chief Billy Samuels said. The Clark County coroner did not immediately report the identities or causes of death in either case.

Water also flowed through a parking structure flood channel near The Linq hotel and High Roller observation wheel, and social media posts showed water leaking from the ceiling onto gambling tables at the Planet Hollywood resort.

No other injuries were reported. Officials with Caesars Entertainment Inc., owner of both properties, did not immediately respond to messages about damage.

The overnight storm was similar to another that swept through Las Vegas two weeks earlier, late July 28.

Friday dawned to clear skies, but the National Weather Service reported thunderstorms by afternoon north and east of the Las Vegas Valley. It said heavy downpours, frequent lightning and gusty winds would be possible with any storms

A flash flood watch was in effect through the day for southern Nevada and neighboring counties: Mohave in northwest Arizona and San Bernardino in California.

Meteorologist Brian Planz said about 1.25 inches (3.2 centimeters) of rain fell overnight in some areas west of the Las Vegas Strip and near the city of Kingman in northwest Arizona.

One gauge in Arizona’s Hualapai Mountains logged almost 2.5 inches (6.3 centimeters) of rain on Thursday, Planz said, and some Mohave County desert roads prone to flash flooding became impassible because of running water.

Social media video showed water above hubcaps of cars in some Las Vegas intersections and washing into the doorway stairs of a bus plowing through flooding.

Winds were not a widespread factor late Thursday, but the weather service recorded a gust of 64 mph (103 kph) at North Las Vegas Airport. No damage was reported.

Planz said 0.58 inch (1.47 centimeters) of rain was recorded at the official measuring spot at Harry Reid International Airport, bringing the total to 1.28 inches (3.25 centimeters) during the June 15 to Sept. 30 monsoon season.

“That makes this the wettest monsoon season in ten years,” the weather service said over a Tweet chart labeled “Restless 2022 Monsoon.” It tallied 3.63 inches (9.2 centimeters) of summer rain in the region in 2012, but only a trace in 2020.

The Las Vegas area usually receives about 4.2 inches (10.7 centimeters) of rain per year.

Planz said forecasts call for more storms through next week, fueled by warm air and moisture drawn north from the Gulf of California.

“There’s really no sign of the monsoon letting up anytime soon, so we’re going to continue to see the chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms each afternoon and evening,” Planz said.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Image: A cargo ship is stuck under the part of the structure of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after ...

Associated Press

Authorities identify 2 bodies recovered at site of Baltimore bridge collapse

A major bridge in Baltimore snapped and collapsed after a container ship rammed into it early Tuesday, and several vehicles fell into the river below.

1 day ago

Photo: Mountaineer Jim Whittaker has died at 95....

Gene Johnson, The Associated Press

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, has died at age 95.

1 day ago

File photo: Former Sen. Joe Lieberman speaks in Washington on Jan. 18, 2024....

Associated Press

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Democrats’ VP pick in 2000, dead at 82

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who nearly won the vice presidency on the Democratic ticket with Al Gore in 2000, has died.

1 day ago

islamic state attack...

Vanessa Gera, The Associated Press

What we know after the Islamic State group claims responsibility for Moscow massacre

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on a suburban Moscow concert hall that killed at least 133 people.

5 days ago

Moscow shooting...

The Associated Press

Russia: 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility

Assailants burst into a concert hall in Moscow on Friday and sprayed the crowd with gunfire, killing over 60 people, injuring more than 100.

7 days ago

Photo: Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge visits 282 (East Ham) Squadron, RAF Air Cadets, Cornwel...

Associated Press

Kate Middleton announces she has cancer, is undergoing chemotherapy

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, says she is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer. She has been out of view since Christmas.

7 days ago

2 dead amid ‘restless’ monsoon-season flooding in Las Vegas