Saturday, July 12, 2008 | 10:47 a.m.
(Originally posted at 12:42 a.m.)
The desert got a light show Friday night and into this morning as the region picked up its first rain since May.
McCarran International Airport last recorded rainfall on May 24, when one-tenth of an inch was reported. Last night's storms only dropped 0.04 inches of rain at McCarran, but that was good enough to end a dry streak that lasted 47 days.
The drenching lifted the annual rainfall total at the airport to 0.91 inches, although parts of Clark County saw more than that during heavy downpours last night.
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The weather service issued a flood advisory for minor flooding of urban areas that was in effect through 1 a.m. this morning. Forecasters said runoff from heavy rain could elevate water levels in washes and flood channels.
In southeastern portions of the Valley, two-thirds of an inch of rain had fallen in 30 minutes. The heaviest rain in the immediate area was generally south of Interstate 215 in the south-central portion of the Valley.
East of Las Vegas, radar indicated up to two inches fell in the South Cove area near the Arizona line, prompting a flash flood warning for parts of Clark County and Mohave County, Ariz.
The high temperature Friday reached 99 degrees, making it the first day the mercury has fallen short of the triple digits since June 13. The average high on today's date at McCarran is 104, according to weather service records.
Slightly cooler and more humid weather is in the forecast through the weekend. A slight chance of rain is possible each day through Tuesday, forecasters said, with highs topping out near 100 degrees.
The average July brings 0.44 inches of rain to the city.
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