A bulldozer cleans up debris from the southbound lanes of U.S. 95 at Wagonwheel Drive after a flash flood closed the highway, Thursday, July 12, 2018.
Heavy rain this morning triggered flooding in parts of the valley, major road closures and delayed flights into and out of the Las Vegas airport, according to the National Weather Service.
Although storms popped up throughout the valley, east Henderson was hit particularly hard, meteorologist Barry Pierce said. A flood warning there expired this afternoon, but not before a quarter of an inch of rain had fallen.
The areas most affected were Railroad Pass, U.S. 95 near the College Drive exit and parts of Boulder Highway, Pierce said.
The freeway was closed southbound from College to Wagonwheel drives, with 2 to 3 feet of water covering the road, according to the weather service and the Nevada Department of Transportation. Nevada Department of Transportation crews were dispatched to pump out the water and clear debris, officials said. The highway was reopened by 3 p.m.
Furthermore, parts of the northwest valley saw rainfall in the half-inch to three-quarter-inch range, meteorologist Ashley Wolf said. Some parts of the valley remained dry throughout the day.
Flood advisories were issued at opposite ends of Interstate 15 outside of Las Vegas, near Moapa — which expires at 5:45 p.m. — and Mesquite, which expires an hour later. The Weather Service advised commuters not to drive over flooded roads.
McCarran International Airport officials said weather conditions were causing delays of departing and arriving flights and advised travelers to consult with their airlines for the latest flight status information.
Lighter rain fell in the Green Valley and Anthem areas, Pierce said.
Although most of the rain fell in the morning, there was a slight chance of more through the night, Wolf said. Friday will see a 30 percent chance of rain in the valley, and up to 70 percent chance in the mountainous regions. It won’t be “as active as the past couple of days,” she said.
As of late afternoon, temperatures in the valley had not gone above 95 degrees, Wolf said.