Winds cause health warning

Wednesday, May 2, 2001 | 11:28 a.m.

Gusty, dusty winds prompted health warnings and delayed one airline flight today.

Winds gusting between 50 and 60 miles per hour are expected through tonight as cold air from Alaska pushes through Nevada today, National Weather Service officials said.

Sustained winds between 20 and 30 mph prompted the weather service to issue a wind advisory for high-profile motor vehicles and boaters at Lake Mead. High temperatures are expected to range from the mid- to high 70s today and Thursday, 20 degrees cooler than Monday and Tuesday's daytime temps.

The Clark County Health District issued a wind advisory for those sensitive to dust and urged people with allergies or chronic breathing problems to stay indoors.

A Delta Airlines flight circled McCarran International Airport twice this morning about sunrise because of windy conditions, airport spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said. No other flights had been disrupted.

In case of winds above 50 mph, McCarran operators would switch landing flights to the north-south runway, Grey said.

The wind was blamed for one downed power pole, knocking out electricity to about 1,000 customers in the area of Vegas Drive and Jones Boulevard this morning, Sonya Headen, a Nevada Power Co. spokeswoman, said.

By 10 a.m. about 90 percent of customers had their power restored, Headen said.

The power company has received many called from people reporting their lights were flickering on and off. Headen said that occurs when two power line touch and the flickering is a safety feature so the two lines don't cause a fire.