Power outages, road havoc wreaked by Monday storms
Rain stormed into the valley Monday morning and evening, leading to power outages, crashes and flooded roads.
The strongest storms dropped between 0.25 to 0.45 inches of rain, the weather service said Monday afternoon. Meteorologist Clay Morgan told the Review-Journal at 9:30 p.m. that rain gauges across the valley measured from a quarter inch to more than 2 inches throughout the day.
A measuring station near Town Center and the 215 Beltway recorded 2.68 inches of rainfall, Morgan said.
Nevada Highway Patrol spokeswoman Trooper Chelsea Stuenkel said that as of 4:30 p.m. her agency had responded to 76 crashes.
Storm cells marked by heavy lightening moved into the valley as sunset approached, knocking out power for nearly 2,000 Southern Nevadans. By 9 p.m., more than 1,700 residents were still in the dark.
Clark County Fire Chief Greg Cassell said Monday night that his department performed multiple water rescues throughout the day, mostly due to drivers who didn't turn away from flooding. The most notable rain-related rescue occurred early in the morning, when county firefighters rescued a 70-year-old homeless woman and her cat, Cougar.
Cassell said the woman was sleeping on a couch under an overpass and awoke to the sound of water as the couch was swept towards a wash. Crews rescued her and referred her to the Red Cross for dry clothes and a place to stay.
Firefighters also threw their own money into a hat to buy her and Cougar enough food for two days, Cassell said.
The National Weather Service also issued flood advisories for areas throughout the valley on Monday.
Monday temperatures started out in the 60s. The high was originally forecast at 74 degrees for Monday, but the rain kept temperatures down. Morgan said at 9:30 p.m. that the high temperature of 70 degrees was hit at 1 a.m. Monday.
Tuesday's high is expected to reach 76 degrees, but Monday's rainfall could keep temperatures low. Morgan said there may be some "nuisance showers" Tuesday, but it wouldn't be like Monday's rainfall.
Highs will return to the 90s later in the week.
Contact Wesley Juhl at wjuhl@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0391. Find him on Twitter: @WesJuhl. Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites
