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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Flooding closed roads on the edge of Las Vegas and at Death Valley National Park, as most of Nevada was under a flash flood watch Monday with more rain in the forecast.
The storm system that dumped an estimated three-fourths of an inch of rain on the Las Vegas Strip in just 15 minutes Monday afternoon brought unseasonably cool weather across the region and led to record cool temperatures in what's normally the hottest place in the U.S.
Death Valley's high of 89 Sunday was the lowest ever for Aug. 3, shattering the old record of 104 set in 1945. It was only the seventh time since 1911 that the temperature there had failed to crack 90.
On Monday, flash flooding closed some streets in northwest Las Vegas during the morning commute after about an inch of rain fell in an hour on Mount Charleston, washing out several roads overnight.
An estimated 3 inches of rain fell west of Searchlight within about an hour around noon Monday, the National Weather Service said.
No serious injuries were reported, but in Las Vegas rescue crews were called out when two juveniles reportedly fell into a wash near Hacienda and Buffalo before noon. The call, however, was canceled when they were found safe.
"It appears they got themselves out. One was treated by medical on the scene for what appears to be a cut finger," Metro police officer Laura Meltzer told KSNV-TV.
"This is a timely reminder to stay out of those areas," Meltzer said. "Most washes have fences and some have locks. That means people are to stay out. The sergeant who was there said the water was not very deep, but it was extremely swift."
At about 1:30 p.m., a ranger at Death Valley National Park reported a foot of water was crossing low spots along state Highway 190 between the park entrance and Death Valley Junction, where an inch of rain fell in about an hour. Some roads also were closed within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Boulder City.
Later in the afternoon, flood waters up to a foot deep were reported on Arroyo Road in Blue Diamond near the Spring Mountains and several inches of water covered two lanes of U.S. 95 about 2 miles southeast of Nellis Air Force Base, the weather service said.
The service issued a flash flood warning effective until 6 p.m. in central Clark County near Red Rock Canyon. A flash flood watch continued until 9 p.m. Monday in parts of Clark, western Lincoln and southern Nye counties, and in northern Nevada until 9 p.m. Tuesday for parts of Elko, Lander, Eureka and Humboldt counties.
Rain and thunderstorms remained in the forecast again Tuesday in the south, and into Thursday for central and northeast Nevada.
Temperatures were between 10 and 15 degrees cooler than usual across the state, the weather service said, noting a stark contrast to the unusually warm July.
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