Rain continues to elude valley

Thursday, Aug. 1, 2002 | 11:11 a.m.

Threatening storm clouds and an increase in humidity were in the forecast today, but once again the moisture is expected to pass Las Vegas by, National Weather Service meteorologists said.

Instead of thunderstorms, the Las Vegas Valley saw a haze of pollution Wednesday caused by an increase in atmospheric pressure pushing pollutants down, meteorologist Barry Pierce said. The haze, which is expected to last until Friday, is ugly but not dangerous, said Femi Durosinmi, air quality monitoring supervisor with the Clark County Department of Air Quality Management.

The cloud cover was expected to last through today and pass without dropping rain. It's not the first time Mother Nature has threatened but not delivered rain this monsoon season.

The National Weather Service issued a nine-hour flash flood watch July 24 expecting heavy rain, but the valley saw only a few isolated sprinklings. Despite several days of increased moisture throughout the month, there has been only one day of significant thunderstorms, meteorologist John Adair said.

Five other days have had trace amounts of rainfall but not enough to do more than motivate people to wash the droplets off their cars.

Local residents, however, are ready for some real rainfall.

"Who wouldn't ask for rain?" George Papadopoulas said as he smoked a cigar with friends outside of the Starbucks in the Town Center shopping area on Sunset Road. "This high heat, high humidity is horrible. Rain is nice -- it cleans the air and takes the smog away."

The month of July is usually known for its thunderstorms, being the beginning of the monsoon season for Southern Nevada. Midweek moisture, however, has continually dried out by the weekend without dropping rain over the last few weeks.

Adair expects this cycle of moisture and dryness to continue into August, but said the valley could still see one of the sudden thunderstorms typical during the monsoon season, which continues through September.

"The season has another couple months -- really a month and half -- for something to happen," Adair said. "But it has been pretty dry so far."

During the summer months, a change of wind directs more moisture flows into the area from Mexico and Arizona instead of the Pacific Coast, Adair said. One big thunderstorm during the monsoon season can dump a massive amount of rainfall within a few minutes.

Clouds were expected to roll into the Las Vegas Valley from Arizona Wednesday night, but the humidity level wasn't expected to rise much. The haze of pollution is expected to remain stagnant until Friday, when higher winds could stir the air up, Pierce said.

Locals, however, were unanimous in their desire for rain as they enjoyed the Town Center shopping area's fountain and mist-covered patio tables.

"I want it to rain -- I miss the rain," Randy Jones said as he dried his son off after he had played in the jumping fountain. "I'm from back East and I just miss the rain. It cools things off, and it's good for the grass and the yard."

Other locals cited the current drought conditions and the lowness of Lake Mead as reasons for Mother Nature to throw some water on the valley.

"I'd like to see it rain," Julie Ross said. "We need some water."

The drought conditions throughout Nevada are supposed to persist or intensify through October, according to the Climate Prediction Center with the National Weather Service. Even if Las Vegas gets a few thunderstorms, it probably wouldn't be enough to make a difference, Adair said.

"Thunderstorms are so spotty they won't alleviate the drought," Adair said. "We need a good wet winter to alleviate drought conditions."